By Captain Pyke | September 1, 2010 - 9:13 pm

As many of you have probably read before, we had the pleasure of visiting Star Trek: The Experience twice during it's run. Both times, we unequivocally felt like we were home among family and friends. Unfortunately, on September 1st, 2008, Star Trek: The Experience closed it's doors for the last time and we're here to mark the two year anniversary of our dear departed friend.

A Brief History of ST:TE

Star Trek: The Experience was a US$70 million permanent Star Trek-themed attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, owned by Cedar Fair Enterprise, containing shops styled after the Deep Space 9 Promenade, a restaurant styled after Quark's, The History of the Future Museum (which was a large collection of props and artifacts), and the Klingon Encounter and Borg Invasion 4D rides. The store was the largest Star Trek-themed store in the world.

The Experience opened with 2,500 on hand for a gala premier on 3 January 1998. It was originally a property owned by Paramount Parks, built by Landmark Entertainment resort/ theme park developer and coordinated by the Paramount/Viacom 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. The facility 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 USS Enterprise-D, with Star Trek aliens such as Ferengi and Klingons as witnesses. The bridge facility was available for photo opportunities and costumes could be rented for the same.

Star Trek: The Experience "Klingon Encounter" and "Borg 4D" adventures 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. (source Memory Alpha)

For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of (for the lack of a better word) experiencing "The Experience", there are a ton of resources available on the net that can give you a taste of, what we called, Star Trek Nirvana. Starting with a complete virtual tour of ST:TE. From inside Quark's Bar all the way through both rides and even the backstage areas.

Visit the Star Trek: The Experience full virtual tour here .

We've had the great pleasure of meeting many of the former ST:TE cast & crew, on the net and in person at Vegas Khhaaan!. All of which we can now call friends. One of our buddies in particular has put together a comprehensive video history of Star Trek: The Experience, called "Star Trek: My Experience". Many of you may know him as ST:TE's 7 of 16 or Lt. "Pep" Streebeck, but in the real world he goes by Vernon Wilmer. Vernon is the unofficial historian of ST:TE and his growing series of videos give great detail and insight to its history and origins. He also features many of the cast & crew.

Star Trek: My Experience

Preview

Part I: Home

Part II: Genesis

Part III: Yesteryear

More coming soon....

Also, check out the official Star Trek: My Experience page on Facebook here.

Like we said earlier, the experience closed 2 years ago today. Paramount sent out a crew to capture that finally day and eventually released it on one of the many Star Trek DVD collections as bonus material. "Somehow", the video wound up on YouTube and has yet to be taken down. Check out the ST:TE Farewell featurette below.

I'm sure we really don't need to say this because so many of you feel the same, but we truly miss The Experience. The scuttlebutt is that someday it will return to Las Vegas and for us, that day can't come soon enough.

So, if you happen to be a multi-millionaire and would love to make a ton of Trek fans happy (and possibly be your best friends for life), why don't you call up CBS and see if you can make it happen? Otherwise, we'll be here, pining away (with so many others) for the return of our dearly departed friend. Lost, but most certainly, not forgotten.