Star Trek : The Experience Star Trek : The Experience was a US $ 70 million permanent " Star Trek " - themed attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel , owned by . Containing shops styled after the Deep Space 9 Promenade , a restaurant styled after Quark ' s , and the " Klingon Encounter " and " Borg Invasion 4D " rides . The store was the largest " Star Trek " - themed store in the world . Incorporated into the attraction was the " The History of the Future Museum " exhibit , a large collection of props and artifacts . Terry Farrell commented after a visit " The Experience " " " I got jostled around and shot at . I didn ' t have to pretend to react for once . Instead of jumping around and shaking , the ride did it all for me . That was pretty cool " " . ( " Farrell ' s Fate " , " " ) History . In 1992 , began developing " The Starship Enterprise " as an attraction in Las Vegas . It was intended to be a full - scale replica of the refit - , both its exterior and interiors . The idea was rejected despite five months of planning as the cost would ' ve been too high if the attraction had flopped . Actually , the grandiose and ambitious scheme came close to fruition ; newly - appointed Paramount Pictures studio head Sherry Lansing , for example , was strongly in favor of the project as proposed by Goddard as were her other conglomerate executive colleagues . However , it was their superior , Vice - President of Paramount Communications – the conglomerate holding company at that time before the acquisition by Viacom – Stanley R . Jaffe who vetoed the plan as proposed , the only executive to do so . " " Albert Einstein said it best : ' Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds ' , " " Goddard sighed . He explained , " All of our work , the effort to get Paramount , the Mayor , and redevelopment committee aligned , everything had come to this moment . We were ready to go . Money in place , land provided by the city , license for the property negotiated with Paramount licensing – all set . If Mr . Jaffe says " yes " and we are a " go " project . And the city wanted to have a press conference within a week announcing the project . So with everyone in the room , I take Mr . Jaffe through the project . With the art , the plans , the overall concept . After my spirited " pitch " everyone was beaming – everyone except Mr . Jaffe . Mr . Jaffe thanked us for the effort , and he congratulated us on creating a bold concept and presentation , and then went into a speech that went something like this : " And with that , Mr . Jaffe in a single moment , destroyed about five months of work by a host of people , and killed one of the greatest ideas of all time . Stanley waltzed out of the room and I think everyone was stunned . No one could believe it . But our dream pretty much ended there . Sherry Lansing was stunned and apologized to the room and followed her boss out . The Paramount licensing team was embarrassed to say the least , and of course , they were also realizing they had just lost out on millions of dollars in future licensing revenues too . The Mayor and the redevelopment committee were just depressed I think . But they thanked me for all the efforts I put into it , and for making the meetings with Paramount possible , and then they headed back to Las Vegas . " Incidentally , Jaffe " had " actually " saved " the year previously , after it was canceled for pretty much the same " too expensive " reasons . ( " see : for particulars " ) Opening . In its scaled down scope , " The Experience " eventually opened with 2 , 500 on hand ( including a host of " official " " Star Trek " alumni ) for a gala premier on 3 January 1998 . It was originally a property owned by Paramount Parks , built by the resort / theme park developer and coordinated by the Paramount / Viacom ( the new owner as of 1995 ) licensing division . It was sold to Cedar Fair , owner of Knott ' s Berry Farm , with the other Paramount Parks division amid the parent Viacom split of CBS and Paramount Pictures in 2006 . On the " Star Trek : Voyager " Season 1 DVD , the sixteen - minute special feature , " Star Trek : The Experience " , explained the attraction , including interviews with some staff members and performers . Closing . On 2 May 2008 , the future of " Star Trek : The Experience " was in doubt due to declining attendance . On 2 July 2008 , Cedar Fair and CBS Consumer Products officially announced that " Star Trek : The Experience " would be closing on , as no agreements were reached between the various parties needed to keep the attraction operational . Cedar Fair was required to completely vacate the space at the Hilton by 31 December 2008 , when their contract with CBS expired . At the time , CBS stated that they were exploring several possibilities to keep " The Experience " running , possibly at another location . The closing ceremony was held on 1 September 2008 . The public was invited to attend the ceremony , which was presented in the tradition of a naval decommissioning ceremony . Giving the keynote at the closing was Suzie Plakson , who introduced all the members of the " Star Trek : The Experience " staff . April Hebert , who played T ' pril , was introduced last as the longest serving cast member of " Star Trek : The Experience " and given the United Federation of Planets banner . Chase Masterson was also in attendance for the closing ceremony , and Garrett Wang made a brief appearance at Quark ' s shortly before closing . Chad Boutte , Operations Manager of " Star Trek : The Experience " , gave the final speech with the final words " live long and prosper " . The props and equipment displayed at the attraction were shipped back to Hollywood where Paramount Pictures will retain them in storage . " Star Trek " actor Robert Picardo , who performed in the " Borg Invasion 4D " , was critical of the decision to close the attraction right before the release of the new film which he expected to revitalize the franchise . According to a 6 Feb 2009 article from the " Las Vegas Sun " , " Star Trek : The Experience " was to reopen in the Neonopolis Mall in downtown Las Vegas on 8 May 2009 . This ultimately did not happen , for reasons as yet unknown . It was stated that the date was chosen to coincide with the release of . Reports stated that only the first phase would open this year , with the complete " Experience " to re - open in early 2010 . On 10 April 2010 , some of the unwanted props and equipment from the exhibit were sold at auction . The " " STAR TREK : THE EXPERIENCE " Warehouse Sale " was handled by newly - formed auction house Propworx of Alec Peters in their first " Star Trek " auction . In April , 2011 , CBS released a statement that the licensee was unable to meet the terms of the license for the attraction and hence the agreement was terminated . CBS stated they remained committed to creating a new " Star Trek " attraction , either in Vegas or elsewhere . As of October , 2016 , no new " Star Trek " attraction has been announced . " The Experience " . " Star Trek : The Experience " played host to parties , receptions , weddings , scheduled events , and conventions . Those who wished to hold their wedding there could have it in Starfleet uniform on the bridge of the , with " Star Trek " aliens such as Ferengi and Klingon s as witnesses . The bridge facility was available for photo opportunities and costumes could be rented for the same . The " Klingon Encounter " and " Borg 4D " adventure rides uniquely combined ride simulators , accurately detailed sets , special effects and trained , dedicated costumed live actors to make guests truly feel they were actually in the " Trek " universe . The site offered tie - in parties , photo opportunities and sidebar events when Creation Entertainment ' s annual " Star Trek " convention was held at the Hilton in August . Promenade shops . Moogie ' s Trading Post . Moogie ' s Trading Post was located outside Quark ' s just before the entrance to the Promenade . Quark ' s Bar and Restaurant . Quark ' s Bar & Restaurant was a fine dining establishment . " Klingon Encounter " . The " Klingon Encounter " ride , was featured from the very opening of " The Experience " right up until its closure , making it the longest running show in the entire " Star Trek " franchise according to IMDb . Still , due to budget cuts near the end of the attraction , the number of stage live performers accompanying the visitors , pursuant an earlier " Light Night Show " - schedule , was reduced to two bridge officers only . Plot . Initially , a group of about twenty visitors entered a rather confining room . ( The exact number of participants varied , as friends and family were unlikely to split . ) Once inside the room , one of the ride directors began speaking about the " Experience " and seemed to be intentionally making it sound unexciting , like you were " visiting a typical museum " and limited to a shuttle ride – motion simulator . During this initial lecture of " Star Trek " history , a small device displayed scenes from several . The group entered the next room , where they were instructed via monitor about the shuttle ride when there was " trouble " with the monitors . . . then the lights went out . Dozens of small round flashes flickered through the darkness to simulate the " transporter effect " , accompanied by the transporter sound effect and a rush of cold air . When the lights returned , the walls and floor had changed . . . you appeared to be on the transporter pad aboard the USS " Enterprise " - D . The layout was similar to the usual transporter room as seen in , and the group was facing a Starfleet uniformed transporter technician at their station . While on the transporter pad , a Starfleet officer asked the group leaders ( two ride - tour directors ) to accompany them . An officer then explained that the visitors were beamed aboard the starship " Enterprise " and were in " " what ' you ' would call the future , the year 2371 " . " He then requested the group to follow him . The group was led down a typical starship corridor to the bridge . On the bridge , the group stood in the rear between the science stations and the tactical station . A crewmember explained that Captain Jean - Luc Picard disappeared the moment the group beamed aboard the " Enterprise " . Although the three chairs that ( from port to starboard ) Counselor Deanna Troi , Picard , and Commander William T . Riker usually occupied were empty , that was only visible if one ventured to look over the semicircular counter that housed the tactical station . There were various crewmembers busy on the bridge during this time , and they contacted Commander Riker , who promptly appeared on the main viewscreen . Riker explained that a group of rogue Klingons , led by Korath , transported your group to the future because " one of you is an ancestor of Captain Picard " . Korath ' s plan was to kill the group , and prevent Picard ' s existence . Riker stated that your group was to escape via shuttlecraft and go through a temporal rift , which should return all the guests back to their original time , and restore the existence of Captain Picard . While the group was in the turbolift , the Klingons attacked the " Enterprise " . There was a malfunction and the turbolift entered a ( simulated ) free fall . There were several jolts on the turbolift during the attack . Finally , the group arrived at the shuttle bay deck along a large section of corridor . The group then lined up to board the shuttlecraft . Each line corresponded to a row of seats in the shuttle , so people in the same line would sit in the same row . The shuttle ride , " led " by Geordi La Forge , began by exiting the " Enterprise " and entering a battle between the " Enterprise " and a few Klingon vessels . The shuttle went into warp and dropped out in the rings of a planet , where they were instructed to find and destroy a cloaking generator on the planet ' s surface . There were several dogfights during this time . The shuttle then returned through the temporal rift to present - day Las Vegas , buzzing the Sands Hotel at one point . However a Klingon ship followed , and locked a tractor beam on the group ' s shuttle . " " It ' s over , Humans ! " " Korath exclaims " " But take heart , today is a good day to die ! " " Suddenly a familiar voice states " " If you say so , Korath . . . " " The Klingon ship and then exploded in front of you as the " Enterprise " flew triumphantly through the ship ' s destruction , complete with Goldsmith - esque fanfare . The shuttle landed at the Las Vegas Hilton , in a unique manner , and the ride ended , right next to the " motion simulators " the visitors were supposedly waiting to enter before they were " beamed off " at the start of the story . Before the crew of the " Enterprise " left , Captain Picard opened a communique to the shuttle and thanked the group for " restoring his existence . " He stated " " While only one of you is my ancestor , each of you holds that same opportunity for the future . Guard it well . " " The shuttle door opened , and typically there was a custodian behind it . He explained that the shuttle fell through the floor and that you were in a restricted area , and you must leave immediately . The custodian led the group to an elevator and then out to the Deep Space 9 Promenade and Quark ' s Bar and Restaurant . While waiting for the elevator , the group members could watch a monitor with a " breaking " local Las Vegas " news broadcast " featuring the " UFO " sightings that were the Klingons and the " Enterprise " . References . 2371 ; ; Klingon Bird - of - Prey ; Las Vegas ; time travel ; turbolift " Borg Invasion 4D " . The " Borg Invasion 4D " - ride , christened under its original working title " Star Trek : Borg Encounter " for the Bremen , Germany venue , opened on . It was developed by Paramount Parks , working closely with Rick Berman Productions , Viacom Consumer Products and a number of " Star Trek " consultants and creators to ensure the authenticity of the experience . Threshold Digital Research Labs produced the and 3D film portion . While an official franchise production , events depicted in the film are , as usual for these kind of productions ( therefore also including the above featured Klingon ride ) , not considered canon . The entire ride , encompassing the film , lasted for about 25 minutes . As with its sister Klingon ride , due to budget cuts near the end of the attraction , the number of stage live performers accompanying the visitors , pursuant an earlier " Light Night Show " - schedule , was reduced to three , of which only one was Borg , where there were previously half a dozen . Effects for the ride included droplets of water , wind bursts , minor motion , and jabbing of the occupants – in the back and under the legs – through their chairs , thus the " 4D " in the title . ( Though mild , the unexpected sensations could be startling . ) Plot . This ride took groups of up to 48 people at a time . They entered a briefing room aboard the Starfleet science research facility " Copernicus Station " . The briefing room had a large viewscreen in the front beyond a podium , upon which several Starfleet personnel stood . There was also a Starfleet officer on the opposite side of the room . On the screen , The Doctor from appeared and greeted the group . He explained that the group had been selected to undergo medical testing because some of the members were immune to Borg nanotechnology ( which he " detected " when the group entered the room ) . In the middle of his presentation to the guests , The Doctor was interrupted by one of the station administrators . She said that they had detected a ship approaching the station at high warp . Since it didn ' t respond to communications , the station went to yellow alert ( as the lights dimmed ) . The administrator said that they would postpone the medical testing until this possible threat was dealt with . When the tactical officer of the station had a visual , the administrator said , " " Let ' s see it . " " Lo and behold , in all its grim glory , it was a full size Borg cube that slowly and ominously approached the station . The officers in the room and The Doctor all shared the same grim expression , knowing that difficult times were ahead . The station went to red alert ( with the lights flashing red ) and the administrator gave orders to open fire on the cube ; the ground shook beneath and the sound of phaser s and quantum torpedo es firing thunderously were heard . The cube appeared to sustain heavy damage , but was still able to tractor a section of the station away . The administrator requested a young security officer , Lt . Elkins , to get to the docking bay and help evacuate the visitors . He complied but informed her that they suffered heavy damage . The Borg located the testing facility and as The Doctor informed them to brace for impact , the cube fired a projectile , and all the lights went dark , but not before hearing a large amount of static . Then , all as one , the dreaded automata spoke . " " We are the Borg . You will be assimilated . Resistance is futile . " " The viewscreen came back online , and The Doctor checked in with Lt . Elkins . When The Doctor asked if Elkins was all right , he reported " " For now . There ' s an extraordinary amount of damage down here . Sir , the Borg have entered the facility . The station ' s being overrun . " " The Doctor then told the group to get to the shuttle " Olympia " while there was still time ; at this point he delivered the relevant safety instructions for the ride . As he was about to end the transmission , you saw a group of Borg drone s enter behind him . The Doctor proceeded to fire a phaser , and you saw one of the medical technicians injected with Borg nanoprobe s as his skin turned ghastly white , and his veins turned black . Frantically The Doctor told Elkins , from the viewscreen , that they needed to evacuate and then disappeared from view as a group of drones approached his position . A security officer entered the room , and led the group to the next room : a corridor that looks severely damaged . As the group was in the corridor , a drone appeared to move towards the group , but turned instead to examine an LCARS computer panel . Starfleet Commander Markus told the group that he posed no threat at the moment , then the door the officer was standing in front of opened and a drone pulled him into a turbolift as he screamed and yelled at the group to save themselves . At the opposite end of the room was Commander Ross on an elevated station . He proceeded to try and open the next door , but instead shot the panel with his phaser as the drone that was examining the computer console moved towards the group . That drone was eliminated , but as the door to the shuttle opened , an unseen drone pulled the officer up from the ceiling as he screamed . The group then entered a room that purported to be the holding area of an escape vessel . Everyone picked up " safety glasses " ( 3D goggles ) and sat down . The shuttle took off from the station , but was pulled inside the Borg cube . The front of the shuttle was blown open ( utilizing 3D effects ) and bird - like cybernetic lifeforms approached , scanning the ship and passengers . Elkins instructed Flemming to remain with the passengers as he attempted to fend them off inside the cube . As he fired at the creatures , two drones transported to his position and transported him away . Small Borg probes entered the shuttle and sprayed the group with nanoprobes . They wriggled under the skin ( by way of motion prods under the seats ) as the Borg Queen appeared . She began lecturing about the perfection of the Borg Collective and demanded the surrender of the group ' s inhibitions and instructed them to join the hive mind . As the nanoprobes took hold , you were subjected to a hallucination of the Collective from the point of view of drones , moving through the cube . You entered an assimilation chamber and saw Lt . Elkins undergoing assimilation . At that moment , The Doctor projected himself into the hallucination , telling the group to fight it . " " You are resistant to assimilation ! Fight it ! We ' re coming for you , help is on the . . . " " He then cut out . The group , now out of the hallucination , listened to the Queen as she began lecturing , purporting that no one had ever resisted assimilation . Then , another communication entered the ship and a familiar female voice said , " " Maybe it ' s time we even the sides . " " The Queen looked abashed . " " Janeway ! " " she screamed . Admiral Kathryn Janeway appeared on two side viewscreens as you saw " Voyager " burst through the far side of the cube and begin to approach the audience ' s shuttle . Janeway began to addresses the Queen : " " Stand aside , I ' ve come to take these people home . " " " " In a moment , this cube and everything in it will be " incinerated " . " " the Queen said . Janeway skeptically fired back , " " You ' d sacrifice an entire cube to destroy us ? " " " " You ' re a fool Janeway , there will always be more drones ! " " the Queen yelled . " Voyager " and these unique individuals will be a more significant loss ! " " " " We ' re not losing anyone . " " Janeway confidently said . She then asked , " " Doctor ? " " The Doctor then materialized on a platform near the front of the shuttle , informing the pilot that shield frequencies had been altered allowing the shuttle to raise its defenses . " " This is useless ! " " The Queen yelled . " " You ' re all trapped ! " " " " Don ' t be too sure " " Janeway said , as " Voyager " fired phasers on the Queen ' s position . She appeared to beam out before she could be destroyed . Janeway then ordered , " " Fire quantum torpedoes ! " " " Voyager " obliged , as The Doctor held off the remaining nanoprobes with a hand phaser in time for the force field on the shuttle ' s bow to be activated . Janeway then beamed The Doctor to " Voyager " and left the cube in shambles as she locked her tractor beam on the group ' s shuttle , and the group was then treated to the magnificent explosion of the Borg cube as it was defeated by the Federation . " " Savor your victory ! " " the Queen yelled . " " We " will " meet again ! " " On the way back to Copernicus Station , The Doctor appeared and addressed the audience . " " We did it ! What a remarkable encounter ! Oh , the papers I ' ll be able to publish ! Of course I ' ll need several weeks with all of you back at Copernicus for observation ! " " As The Doctor laughed , Admiral Janeway chimed in . " " Doctor ? I think they ' ve been through enough , thank you . " " The Doctor dropped his shoulders in sadness and obliged , " " Yes , admiral " " as he dematerialized . As the shuttle docked back at Copernicus Station , Janeway spoke to the audience one final time : " " Congratulations . You resisted the Borg with the one thing the Queen can never assimilate : the Human spirit . So long as we have that , resistance is " never " futile . " " The theme to the " Voyager " television show then played , and everyone was directed to exit to the right . References . 2379 ; assimilation ; Borg drone ; quantum torpedo ; " Star Trek The Experience Secrets Unveiled " . " Star Trek The Experience Secrets Unveiled " was a paid , fully guided , behind - the - scenes look at the various productions that went into making " The Experience " . It was offered daily at limited times , so as not to interfere with other attractions , participants would wear wireless headsets and see how the many special effects were executed , the tour would occasionally pause while " backstage " to allow a production to continue . The tour would also walk around promenade to see how the production on characters costumes , make up , and character histories were developed – for example , actors playing Klingon s were required to learn Klingonese , and actors playing Ferengi had to memorize the Rules of Acquisition . Upon completion , a customized certificate was presented to attendees , who also signed a guestbook . The History of the Future Museum . The History of the Future Museum was the permanent exhibition part of the " Experience " and consisted of galleries with production items on display in glass cabinets . While many items were indeed production used ( a notable one being the Picard family album ) , there were also many commissioned and / or commercial replicas on display , such as Nomad or the " Daedalus " - class model , to beef out the exhibit , especially where the " " – though the exhibit was able to display production - used recreations from the " Deep Space Nine " homage episode , produced nearly two years prior to its opening – was concerned , of which not many original production items were still in the possession of the franchise . The exhibit expanded when items from " Voyager " , " Enterprise " , and were added , which were either still , or not yet in production , when the attraction opened . Regular " Star Trek " production staffer Penny L . Juday served as the primary curator of the exhibit . ( Star Trek Generations ( Special Edition ) DVD - special feature , " Picard ' s Family Album " ) Some of the larger display pieces , such as the mannequins dressed in " Star Trek " attire were part of a " roaming display " , displayed at various points in time at various locations throughout the " Experience " . Upon closure of the " Experience " , the exhibit continued to exist in spirit , if not physically , as the " Star Trek The Exhibition " traveling exhibit tour , which started its run three months prior to the closure of the " Experience " , many display items subsequently moving over to that venue . Live actors . The attraction was comprised of a rotating cast of actors . No actor was assigned to any particular part permanently , thereby being " Swing Actors " for " either " ride attraction , as live performer Charles Blackwell has dubbed themselves . A partial exception were the Borg performers , as their Borg costumes and appliances were made to fit . But as not to be subjected all the time to the grueling makeup routine , sixteen Borg ( plus an additional six with non - functional costumes and appliances for the restaurant exclusively ) , who were not employed all at once , were conceived for the ride , giving the actors the opportunity to play other roles as well . Listed below are those actors not yet mentioned above , and reiterated are those who had other performances aside from the Klingon and Borg rides . Shortly before " The Experience " closed its doors , several of the actors took it upon themselves to record their behind - the - scenes experiences for posterity , as most of them had been working for years at the attraction . This they had to do surreptitiously , as management had expressly prohibited such activity . Long after the attraction had closed its doors , four " Actor ' s Perspectives " shorts were posted in the internet channel YouTube , three pertaining to the Klingon ride , and one to the Borg ride .