Why isn't there more Star Trek themed hotel, fan experience or theme parks in the US. I know Universal Parks has a temporary Fan Fest experience but it seems like it would be something that be attractive.
Which is not nothing, but that still doesn't speak well of Trek's potential in the theme park space. I think it could work within a larger park, but not as its own ticket.
Yeah, they wanted to make a close to life-size Enterprise-A if memory serves as the concept. I can only imagine Gene rolling over in his grave if it became a casino.
Yeah, Paramont dodged a phaser beam when its CEO at the time put a stop to that idea before it could get built.
IMO, attempting to build it would have been plagued by construction issues, delays and cost overruns to the point it would be an embarrassment for Paramount.
Paramount's money was better spent on DS9, Voyager and more Trek movies.
It went for a solid 10 year run, but then the hotel let the lease expire and the operator (Cedar Fair) was already downsizing after their purchase of Paramount Parks + the recession.
Problem is it didn’t last because the Hilton had other plans for the space. To my knowledge, especially with the convention there, it don’t suffer from too much lack of traffic? Maybe I’m wrong about that. My only experience was being there for the convention.
Star Trek: The Experience was incredible, but financially unfeasible. There's basically no other way to do a Star Trek theme park that would remotely honor the franchise, otherwise.
I would love to stay at one, but things like this have never been viable for very long, unfortunately. If you want a ridiculously compelling documentary about how and why (not Star Trek related, but with all the same potential issues and a similar volume of fandom it tried to draw from) there's one on YouTube called "The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel" that had me riveted for 4 whole hours.
Read this post and immediately imagined a world where star trek also got a hotel and we got a whole four hour sequel from her about the spectacular failure of the star trek hotel...
It would be a fun thing to have a Star Trek world at Universal Studios in Orlando or something. I could see it being very popular but the IP would need to be licensed from Paramount in addition to costing a fortune.
It was hardly an attraction. I worked at the Orlando one. You'd get into costume (the maroon monster from the TOS movies) then stand in a blue screen room. You'd get fake ears if you were Spock. You'd read lines from strategically placed cue cards while I moved set pieces around. It was free but you could buy the VHS of it if you wanted to.
We used to have some Star Trek when it was "Paramount's Kings Dominion" in central Virginia, but Paramount got out of the theme park business around 2009.
I don't remember any rides, but I do remember there being a stage show, employees walking the park in costume (Federation, Klingon, and Romulan), and a decent sized merch store.
I still have my Voyager mug and "Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Star Trek" poster. I might have my hero ships tee, too.
This was tried in Las Vegas -- The Star Trek Experience. It opened when TNG movies were running (After First Contact I think), DS9 was running strong, and Voyager had been running back on the (now defunct) UPN back in the 1990s. Back when it seemed like Trek (not me) couldn't put a foot wrong
It was at the Las Vegas Hilton, which today is the Westgate. Last time I was in Vegas and rode the monorail, I could still see the faded outline of the delta shield in oval logo that the attraction and TNG-era films used on the blue section of the building.
It was. The main area was a recreation of the DS9 promenade, with Quark’s bar as the flagship bar/restaurant and other shops. Thru had various props and costumes on display, including large starship models hanging from the ceiling. Similar to a theme park with characters walking around, they had employees in costume and makeup as various alien species.
The original ride included a simulated beam-up to the Enterprise-D, a walk through of their recreation of the bridge set, and finally a motion-simulator ride aboard a Shuttlecraft (think Disney’s Star Tours) that returned you to the Hilton. The second ride, added later, was the Borg Invasion show with Voyager characters appearing in pre-recorded scenes and a theater show with the Borg Queen.
You could also pay extra for extras like getting your picture taken in the Captain’s chair on the bridge.
Disney was not able to make the Star Wars cruise work - it was way too expensive. Universal FanFest was fun but it was
Just a taste of Trek fun…. But they have a TNG bridge, sick bay, and engine room - maybe more can be added.
There are a lot of discussion about the Trek at FanFest all over the internet. Hopefully it will get further developped as it has to work
For fans and John/Jane Public.
There was one at the Bremen Space Center in Germany about 20 years ago. It was phenomenal, but it didn't last very long. I remember a "4D" Borg ride, props, actors in accurate costumes, and a special video intro with Robert Picardo as the EMH.
I remember buying a Diamond Select Enterprise A as a souvenir.
Paramount owned several theme parks at one point. Carowinds was one, and had a coaster called the Borg Assimilator…and not much else Star Trek, from what I recall.
I went to the Star Trek Experience in Vegas. Absolutely loved it. It was great. I wish they'd bring something like that back. But, even though we all love Trek, it isn't quite the force within popular culture that it once was. Certainly not enough to justify such a huge investment.
What was the Las Vegas Hilton had Star Trek: The Experience. It was awesome. When Paramount sold all of their parks to Cedar Fair, it didn’t take long for Cedar Fair to decide not to renew the lease. The 90s Star Trek oval logo is still on the building, along side the monorail track.
Also, Paramount doesn’t understand why Star Trek is important and different from other sci-fi, which is why so many modern Star Trek properties don’t fit right. They turn them into action-adventure instead of sci-fi.
In the 1990s Las Vegas transformed itself into a family friendly destination. The Hilton hotel hosted The Star Trek experience. This included characters you could take pictures with and a motion-ride similar to Star Tours at Disney parks.
This closed down in the early part of 2000's. There was discussions of having a new Trek experience in Downtown Vegas but it never went anywhere.
There currently isn't any Trek theme parks because Paramount doesn't currently have any theme parks nor do they have any partnerships with any theme parks.
Disney had a partnership with Lucasfilm even before they bought Lucasfilm. This is why Star Tours was at Disney parks since the 1990s.
The Universal Parks are owned by Universal Studios. Funny enough - the first science-fiction franchise with a theme park experience was Battlestar Galactica. There was a laser-light show simulating a Cylon battle at the California park for many years. It was featured in the opening to the A-Team TV show (also a Universal Studios production).
Now that the Ellisons own Paramount, it's possible that they could do more experiences like a hotel or even a theme park.
I remember in the early 90s when Paramount was flush with cash and went on a spending spree.
"Let's start our own TV station!" The executives said. "Yes! More!!" replied the public.
"How about we buy a struggling chain of theme parks and rebrand all Trek like?!" Said the executives. "By the Blessed Exchequer, we can practically FEEL the Latinum!" Cried the money men!
Paramount's King's Dominion in Virginia was the bomb! Vulcans and Klingons walking around in full costume and make up. It didn't last long but was amazing.
Moviepark in Germany has a Federation Plaza with a Starfleet academy themed area and a coaster called Operation Enterprise. I think that’s the closest we can get right now, aside from the closed attractions everyone else mentioned.
Paramount did at one point have a Parks division. At my local amusement park Kings Island in Cincinnati, we would have actors walking around all day in the humid 80-95 degree weather mid-summer decked out in full Klingon regalia and movie-quality makeup. They would be 'chased' around by other actors wearing Starfleet Monster Maroons. Bear in mind this was dead of summer and these poor people would be sweating buckets in those things. I remember being very impressed but also felt very sorry for them.
We also had a little garden area where they put models of movie props from famous Paramount films, and the crowning piece was a filming model sized Enterprise-A and Bird of Prey. The Bird of Prey was removed after the first year the park was open as Paramount's Kings Island.
In non-Star Trek stuff I recall there was a show every few hours where a group of actors dressed as the characters would perform a random episode of Cheers on a stage which looked like bar set. This was indoors. My 7th grade English teacher played Frasier the opening year.
The Parks that made up their portfolio were: Paramount’s Kings Island, Paramount’s Kings Dominion, Paramount’s Carowinds, Paramount’s Great America, Paramount Canada’s Wonderland.
Paramount lost a lot of money in the theme park business and ended up selling all their park assets to Cedar Fair in 2006. Which in turn are about to become Six Flags properties.
The best experience by far was Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. I visited it in 2004 on my honeymoon and I didn't want to leave. It was total immersion. I returned for visits in 2005 and 2007. By 07, it was apparent that the attraction was showing its age. The attendance was way down. It closed in 08. While not part of Paramount Parks, it was still owned and operated by the same management group, and eventually also Cedar Fair in 2006, when they bought out Paramount Parks. I live in Vegas now and if that still existed I would be there almost every day. No joke. Apparently the physical sets still stand behind boards at Westgate and the label scar of the Starfleet Delta is still visible on the hotel's exterior just beneath the monorail station.
The answer it seems is that Paramount just couldn't run theme parks. Universal operates very few theme parks and in targeted areas (Orlando, LA, Osaka). By not spreading yourself thin, you can provide better more expensive attractions with higher quality. Paramount tried to be Six Flags and it ended up costing them too much. And that's why you don't see them today. They learned their lesson. It's much easier to market a fan night at Universal with another studios assistance than it is to build a theme park and put the same shows on every day.
Star Trek is an odd fit for this kind of thing. Yes it's a major exploitable IP, but it's not like Star Wars or Marvel or Transformers or Harry Potter (barf) or Minions or whatever, which are children's stories that are suitable for adults. Star Trek is adult stories that are suitable for children. That distinction has always made it difficult for Paramount to license out Star Trek as effectively as other things have been able to.
They have tried, to a certain level of success occasionally, but it will never work as well or be as sustainable as it is for something like Star Wars.
The Star Trek Experience in Vegas was amazing but it was sold and the new owners didn't put anything into it. Even the best theme park needs regular freshening and promotion without which it will slowly die.
Star Trek the experience was crazy and weird and daring and I loved it. I watched four people drinking something that looked like Long Island iced tea with dry ice foaming out of the top using four straws. It was at the bar called corks that we all know and it was called a warp core breach.
I think Star Trek is more of an interactive type of franchise and not one that does well with amusement type of things. Most people are not enticed by making a piece agreement as a fun activity. They want to blow up Klingon warships instead. That my opinion of it anyway.
That's a good point but after seeing the Ministry of magic and experiencing the Ministry of Magic Floo Effect at Universal park in Orlando. I feel the technology is available that could at least make an amazing ride or a couple of experiences that could be amazing.
They tried it in Vegas and it didn’t last.
I was there, Gandalf.
It was glorious. If I had $10 Billion I’d build it back, exactly as it was.
it lasted more than 10 years
Which is not nothing, but that still doesn't speak well of Trek's potential in the theme park space. I think it could work within a larger park, but not as its own ticket.
I went in 2004, hella cool.
I miss that place so much.
…even though the Borg 4D ride scared the crap out of younger me.
That must have been after I went. I just rode the motion sim ride.
Terrified me too, but the Klingons in the bar scared me more.
I wish I had been able to go
I was in Vegas when it was open and didn't visit. Went back a few years later with it high on my priorities only to find it has closed. Gutted I was
Yeah, they wanted to make a close to life-size Enterprise-A if memory serves as the concept. I can only imagine Gene rolling over in his grave if it became a casino.
Come to Quarks, Quarks is fun! Come to Quarks, don’t walk, run!
Yeah, Paramont dodged a phaser beam when its CEO at the time put a stop to that idea before it could get built.
IMO, attempting to build it would have been plagued by construction issues, delays and cost overruns to the point it would be an embarrassment for Paramount.
Paramount's money was better spent on DS9, Voyager and more Trek movies.
Roddenberry probably would’ve wanted a cut of the profits. The man liked money, especially from Star Trek.
Quark: uh... hey... come on!
They should have made it Deep Space Nine themed, and had Quark’s be the casino.
https://trekmovie.com/2012/04/07/find-out-how-las-vegas-almost-saw-a-full-scale-uss-enterprise-attraction/
It was amazing
I loved it.
They nailed that experience. Deep Space 9 eating at Quarks while a Klingon harassed me was top tier immersion.
It went for a solid 10 year run, but then the hotel let the lease expire and the operator (Cedar Fair) was already downsizing after their purchase of Paramount Parks + the recession.
Problem is it didn’t last because the Hilton had other plans for the space. To my knowledge, especially with the convention there, it don’t suffer from too much lack of traffic? Maybe I’m wrong about that. My only experience was being there for the convention.
Star Trek: The Experience was incredible, but financially unfeasible. There's basically no other way to do a Star Trek theme park that would remotely honor the franchise, otherwise.
The Experience was great. I’m glad I had the opportunity to visit it twice.
I loved the Trek Experience- those were days when flights and rooms in Vegas were cheap mid-week & I would visit often. Miss it dearly.
The only part of Vegas I have ever enjoyed. It was so cool.
As popular as Star Trek is it's hard to make something like that work to be honest.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Experience
It was tried.
I would love to stay at one, but things like this have never been viable for very long, unfortunately. If you want a ridiculously compelling documentary about how and why (not Star Trek related, but with all the same potential issues and a similar volume of fandom it tried to draw from) there's one on YouTube called "The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel" that had me riveted for 4 whole hours.
Read this post and immediately imagined a world where star trek also got a hotel and we got a whole four hour sequel from her about the spectacular failure of the star trek hotel...
I mean, I'd take that. Better than nothing.
I’d go to it
King Abdul of Jordan, a big Star Trek fan, was going to build something, but it plans stalled a while back.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Sea_Astrarium
Good. The last thing we need is a petro-state dictatorship hosting a Star Trek attraction.
It would be a fun thing to have a Star Trek world at Universal Studios in Orlando or something. I could see it being very popular but the IP would need to be licensed from Paramount in addition to costing a fortune.
Universal Studios (both Hollywood and Orlando) had the Star Trek Adventure attraction in the 1980s and 1990s.
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Trek_Adventure
Cool. Did not know that. I guess it's possible if it was done before.
It was hardly an attraction. I worked at the Orlando one. You'd get into costume (the maroon monster from the TOS movies) then stand in a blue screen room. You'd get fake ears if you were Spock. You'd read lines from strategically placed cue cards while I moved set pieces around. It was free but you could buy the VHS of it if you wanted to.
We used to have some Star Trek when it was "Paramount's Kings Dominion" in central Virginia, but Paramount got out of the theme park business around 2009.
King's Island also had Star Trek attractions.
I don't remember any rides, but I do remember there being a stage show, employees walking the park in costume (Federation, Klingon, and Romulan), and a decent sized merch store.
I still have my Voyager mug and "Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Star Trek" poster. I might have my hero ships tee, too.
This was tried in Las Vegas -- The Star Trek Experience. It opened when TNG movies were running (After First Contact I think), DS9 was running strong, and Voyager had been running back on the (now defunct) UPN back in the 1990s. Back when it seemed like Trek (not me) couldn't put a foot wrong
Here's some footage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LulQBf4kLnk
It's a good thing there isn't one, or I'd be Star Trek adult
There was a Star Trek bar,experience in Vegas for a while. I forget what hotel but the experience had the bridge of Enterprise-D.
It was at the Las Vegas Hilton, which today is the Westgate. Last time I was in Vegas and rode the monorail, I could still see the faded outline of the delta shield in oval logo that the attraction and TNG-era films used on the blue section of the building.
I bet it was a fun time. Thanks for the info.
It was. The main area was a recreation of the DS9 promenade, with Quark’s bar as the flagship bar/restaurant and other shops. Thru had various props and costumes on display, including large starship models hanging from the ceiling. Similar to a theme park with characters walking around, they had employees in costume and makeup as various alien species.
The original ride included a simulated beam-up to the Enterprise-D, a walk through of their recreation of the bridge set, and finally a motion-simulator ride aboard a Shuttlecraft (think Disney’s Star Tours) that returned you to the Hilton. The second ride, added later, was the Borg Invasion show with Voyager characters appearing in pre-recorded scenes and a theater show with the Borg Queen.
You could also pay extra for extras like getting your picture taken in the Captain’s chair on the bridge.
Disney was not able to make the Star Wars cruise work - it was way too expensive. Universal FanFest was fun but it was Just a taste of Trek fun…. But they have a TNG bridge, sick bay, and engine room - maybe more can be added. There are a lot of discussion about the Trek at FanFest all over the internet. Hopefully it will get further developped as it has to work For fans and John/Jane Public.
There was one at the Bremen Space Center in Germany about 20 years ago. It was phenomenal, but it didn't last very long. I remember a "4D" Borg ride, props, actors in accurate costumes, and a special video intro with Robert Picardo as the EMH.
I remember buying a Diamond Select Enterprise A as a souvenir.
Paramount owned several theme parks at one point. Carowinds was one, and had a coaster called the Borg Assimilator…and not much else Star Trek, from what I recall.
I wish. I really really wish. I heard the one in Vegas was really cool!
I went to the Star Trek Experience in Vegas. Absolutely loved it. It was great. I wish they'd bring something like that back. But, even though we all love Trek, it isn't quite the force within popular culture that it once was. Certainly not enough to justify such a huge investment.
What was the Las Vegas Hilton had Star Trek: The Experience. It was awesome. When Paramount sold all of their parks to Cedar Fair, it didn’t take long for Cedar Fair to decide not to renew the lease. The 90s Star Trek oval logo is still on the building, along side the monorail track.
Also, Paramount doesn’t understand why Star Trek is important and different from other sci-fi, which is why so many modern Star Trek properties don’t fit right. They turn them into action-adventure instead of sci-fi.
In the 1990s Las Vegas transformed itself into a family friendly destination. The Hilton hotel hosted The Star Trek experience. This included characters you could take pictures with and a motion-ride similar to Star Tours at Disney parks.
This closed down in the early part of 2000's. There was discussions of having a new Trek experience in Downtown Vegas but it never went anywhere.
There currently isn't any Trek theme parks because Paramount doesn't currently have any theme parks nor do they have any partnerships with any theme parks.
Disney had a partnership with Lucasfilm even before they bought Lucasfilm. This is why Star Tours was at Disney parks since the 1990s.
The Universal Parks are owned by Universal Studios. Funny enough - the first science-fiction franchise with a theme park experience was Battlestar Galactica. There was a laser-light show simulating a Cylon battle at the California park for many years. It was featured in the opening to the A-Team TV show (also a Universal Studios production).
Now that the Ellisons own Paramount, it's possible that they could do more experiences like a hotel or even a theme park.
I remember in the early 90s when Paramount was flush with cash and went on a spending spree.
"Let's start our own TV station!" The executives said. "Yes! More!!" replied the public.
"How about we buy a struggling chain of theme parks and rebrand all Trek like?!" Said the executives. "By the Blessed Exchequer, we can practically FEEL the Latinum!" Cried the money men!
Paramount's King's Dominion in Virginia was the bomb! Vulcans and Klingons walking around in full costume and make up. It didn't last long but was amazing.
Moviepark in Germany has a Federation Plaza with a Starfleet academy themed area and a coaster called Operation Enterprise. I think that’s the closest we can get right now, aside from the closed attractions everyone else mentioned.
Star Trek has never reached the popularity of something like Star Wars or Harry Potter, and now it’s hidden behind a paywall
Paramount did at one point have a Parks division. At my local amusement park Kings Island in Cincinnati, we would have actors walking around all day in the humid 80-95 degree weather mid-summer decked out in full Klingon regalia and movie-quality makeup. They would be 'chased' around by other actors wearing Starfleet Monster Maroons. Bear in mind this was dead of summer and these poor people would be sweating buckets in those things. I remember being very impressed but also felt very sorry for them.
We also had a little garden area where they put models of movie props from famous Paramount films, and the crowning piece was a filming model sized Enterprise-A and Bird of Prey. The Bird of Prey was removed after the first year the park was open as Paramount's Kings Island.
In non-Star Trek stuff I recall there was a show every few hours where a group of actors dressed as the characters would perform a random episode of Cheers on a stage which looked like bar set. This was indoors. My 7th grade English teacher played Frasier the opening year.
The Parks that made up their portfolio were: Paramount’s Kings Island, Paramount’s Kings Dominion, Paramount’s Carowinds, Paramount’s Great America, Paramount Canada’s Wonderland.
Paramount lost a lot of money in the theme park business and ended up selling all their park assets to Cedar Fair in 2006. Which in turn are about to become Six Flags properties.
The best experience by far was Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. I visited it in 2004 on my honeymoon and I didn't want to leave. It was total immersion. I returned for visits in 2005 and 2007. By 07, it was apparent that the attraction was showing its age. The attendance was way down. It closed in 08. While not part of Paramount Parks, it was still owned and operated by the same management group, and eventually also Cedar Fair in 2006, when they bought out Paramount Parks. I live in Vegas now and if that still existed I would be there almost every day. No joke. Apparently the physical sets still stand behind boards at Westgate and the label scar of the Starfleet Delta is still visible on the hotel's exterior just beneath the monorail station.
The answer it seems is that Paramount just couldn't run theme parks. Universal operates very few theme parks and in targeted areas (Orlando, LA, Osaka). By not spreading yourself thin, you can provide better more expensive attractions with higher quality. Paramount tried to be Six Flags and it ended up costing them too much. And that's why you don't see them today. They learned their lesson. It's much easier to market a fan night at Universal with another studios assistance than it is to build a theme park and put the same shows on every day.
Expedition Theme Park on YouTube did an episode about how a replica Enterprise idea was in motion. https://youtu.be/SDMk8DO4wJ4?si=ddkZX7nyqr2pJs8r
Star Trek is an odd fit for this kind of thing. Yes it's a major exploitable IP, but it's not like Star Wars or Marvel or Transformers or Harry Potter (barf) or Minions or whatever, which are children's stories that are suitable for adults. Star Trek is adult stories that are suitable for children. That distinction has always made it difficult for Paramount to license out Star Trek as effectively as other things have been able to.
They have tried, to a certain level of success occasionally, but it will never work as well or be as sustainable as it is for something like Star Wars.
The Star Trek Experience in Vegas was amazing but it was sold and the new owners didn't put anything into it. Even the best theme park needs regular freshening and promotion without which it will slowly die.
Star Trek the experience was crazy and weird and daring and I loved it. I watched four people drinking something that looked like Long Island iced tea with dry ice foaming out of the top using four straws. It was at the bar called corks that we all know and it was called a warp core breach.
They were once going to do a life size enterprise-A replica, but I think the Las Vegas city council voted against it.
Trek is becoming more and more niche. Best we have and are likely to have is the ticonderoga trek sets which I have heard are amazing !
I think Star Trek is more of an interactive type of franchise and not one that does well with amusement type of things. Most people are not enticed by making a piece agreement as a fun activity. They want to blow up Klingon warships instead. That my opinion of it anyway.
That's a good point but after seeing the Ministry of magic and experiencing the Ministry of Magic Floo Effect at Universal park in Orlando. I feel the technology is available that could at least make an amazing ride or a couple of experiences that could be amazing.
They should make the new one in Niagara Falls Canada.
They tried and it didn’t work.
When where
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Experience
They have hotels around in the USA
I fear we won't make it to the fun that is Historic Bozeman.
Squaring the circle of having a capitalist theme park for a communist utopian future is hard. I’m sure it will work once they figure our Marxismworld
Come to Quark’s
Quark’s is fun
Come tight now
Don’t walk, run!
Socialist utopian future *
Star Trek has never been communist.