Las Vegas Star Trek, the Experience

Star Trek, The Experience is located at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, but unfortunately this grand show may be closing forever on September 1, 2008. So for all you Star Trekkies out there, my advice is don’t delay! What’s more, how about staying at the Las Vegas Hilton, so that you can benefit from all that Star Trek, the Experience offers while enjoying luxury and comfort at the same time!

You can also see the Borg Invasion in four dimensions and Klingon Encounter, and eat at Quark’s Restaurant. The Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, located near the intersection of Paradise Road and Sahara Avenue, is located about 1.5 miles from the Las Vegas Strip.

Purchase a ticket before noon, when the first ride opens daily. Visitors can also walk through a Star Trek museum that has a collection of memorabilia and gadgets from the whole history of Star Trek. You will also see displays for all of the important alien species from the series, including the Klingons. At the end of the museum is a corridor which lead visitors to the rides. Dual mission ticket prices are $42.99 per person, $35.99 for children under twelve and seniors 65+, and $33.99 for Nevada residents. There are also group discount tickets. The rides close at 8:30 p.m. Your ticket entitles you to unlimited rides.

Star Trek, the Experience opened ten years ago. Much of its popularity came about because of the Star Trek: The Next Generation movies. Fans were drawn to the exhibit because it gave them a chance to examine a Trek time line with a collection of sci-fi memorabilia. Visitors could carry on a conversation with a Klingon over a drink after crossing the bridge of the Enterprise. Unfortunately, the exhibit isn’t drawing as many fans today.

The collection of props, costumed “aliens” and adventure simulators was an escape from the non-stop noise of slot machines. There isn’t any information as of now about who will fill the empty space when The Experience closes.

The Borg Invasion 4-D features live performers; the exact experience varies. This ride takes groups of about forty people. There is a Starfleet science station room that has a large view screen in front; beyond a podium are several Starfleet personnel. When entering a room that appears to be a sort of escape craft, visitors are then to put on the 3-D glasses or goggles that are available and then to take their seats. After this, the space shuttle leaves the station which is a thrilling ride for all inside and excites audiences of all ages, the shuttle then gets sucked into the “Borg Cube”. The 3-D effects are used when the front of the shuttle is blown open. Some effects include droplets of water, wind bursts and minor motion.

To experience The Klingon Encounter, you will have to enter a small room which has graphics of outer space. At the same time you can view scenes from several Star Trek movies on a tiny television screen which is placed at the upper right corner of the room.

The group of visitors will then enter an even smaller, dim room where they will wait for the simulator ride to begin. You can line up in front of the various doors, while you will be guided and directed to watch the screens above for a safety demonstration of the shuttle simulator ride. You’ll experience blackness, loud noises, many light flashes simulating the ‘transporter effect”, sound effects and cold air. After that, the lights return, and the walls, floor and ceiling will seem to have vanished leaving you on what appears to be a transporter pad. The room is a lot larger than the original room and there will not be any doors – which will only add to the experience. You are now aboard the USS Enterprise-D, a transporter room as shown in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

At the end of The Experience, you’ll be led into an elevator, and then to the Deep Space Nine Promenade and Quark’s Bar and Restaurant. I would recommend making dinner reservations prior to enjoying Star Trek, the Experience. Remember to make reservations as soon as possible, because, after September 1, 2008, this attraction will no longer exist.