How Las Vegas nearly built a life-sized Starship Enterprise from Star Trek

NOW IT CAN BE TOLD: THE “STAR TREK” ATTRACTION THAT ALMOST CAME TO LIFE in 1992.

Concept Rendering of the 1st concept for loading guests onto the Starship Enterprise, photo courtesy of GGE Blog

The “big idea” was building the ship itself at full-scale. That was the main attraction. That being said, we also knew we would have to have some kind of “show” on board. So, conceptually, it was to be a “tour” of the ship, with all of the key rooms, chambers, decks, and corridors that we knew from the movie. There was to be the dining area for the ship’s crew (where you could dine in Star Fleet comfort), and other special features. There were also one or two interesting ride elements that we were considering including a high-speed travelator that would whisk you from deck to deck. But we were really just getting into the show aspects when everything came to a head.

Now this would have been something to see, even for non-Star Trek fans - the full size Starship Enterprise in downtown Vegas with a tour of the interior. A major attraction builder had won the bidding to build it but was shot down at the last minute by Paramount Studios.

Take a look at the blog link above, they have several more images of the concept art and the story behind the life-size Enterprise that almost was.

The Goddard Group Blog

cool as he77!!! i would love that!!! im spunkin off about this idea rite now!!!
why did they shut it down?

Hi, from Vegas here since '05 or so.

Money.

The cost of this project / the amount of "trekkers" = not the right ratio. Whereas gamblers and stuff, well there's lots of those.

Just as guess, maybe "trekkers" aren't rich gamblers.

All just IMHO.

I was there on vacation around that time.

What they did have was a Star Trek themed bar.

I was served by a Klingon.

They spoke Klingon.

Originally posted by Frankenchrist
I was there on vacation around that time.

What they did have was a Star Trek themed bar.

I was served by a Klingon.

They spoke Klingon.

edit on 10-4-2012 by Frankenchrist because: (no reason given)

I would prefer a bar served by Quark.

But that's just me.

If this was a hotel with the star trek theme, I am sure people would go. Lots of us that may not be rich gambling wise but still would go for nostalgic purposes.

Of course, without a good show going on, business wouldn't be great.

Have different sized rooms for different payers. Captains quarters

I think I would have begged my family to go if this was real.

Originally posted by muzzleflash

Originally posted by Frankenchrist
I was there on vacation around that time.

What they did have was a Star Trek themed bar.

I was served by a Klingon.

They spoke Klingon.

edit on 10-4-2012 by Frankenchrist because: (no reason given)

I would prefer a bar served by Quark.

But that's just me.

They had ferengi there too.

Originally posted by calnorak

Of course, without a good show going on, business wouldn't be great.

Supposedly a new show is in the works.

A whole new Star Trek series...hope it doesn't suck!

Here is a link (and tons of rumors can be found through a simple Google search).
New Trek series rumors

Over the years we've heard about several different attempts to get Star Trek back on the small screen. It looks like there's a possibility that it could actually happen. For those of you who didn't know, Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Voyager) and Bryan Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns) have each separately tried to develop a Star Trek. They're now looking to team up on their efforts to make it happen.

Things are looking pretty good!

They should do this as a casino concept.

Ride = simulation like ride, like the Star Wars one at Disney's park

Drinks = Romulan Ale, anyone?

Show = Burlesque style Vegas show with alien women from the series, lots of skin, a great Kirk look-alike, etc. Musical number, including Uhura's fan dance, hehe...

Gambling with 3D chess themed slot machines!

The possibilities are endless here...

As for the new Trek series possibility, it'd be tricky. Even with a built-in fanbase, the production expense means it would have to get some pretty huge numbers to make it. And, don't screw around with canon like Enterprise did, or get away from the idea of a ship exploring the Universe, like DS9 did.