After moving to Lake Tahoe, the opening sequence with theme music was filmed on the east side of Lake Tahoe in Bourne’s meadow near Round Hill, Nevada. During the first season extra horses were rented from the Idyllwild Stables in Idyllwild, also in the San Jacinto Mountains. The first Virginia City set was used on the show until 1970 and was located on a backlot at Paramount and featured in episodes of Have Gun – Will Travel, Mannix and The Brady Bunch. In the 1970 premiere episode of the 12th season titled « The Night Virginia City Died », Deputy Clem Foster’s pyromaniac fiancée levels the town in a series of fires (reflecting a real 1875 fire that destroyed three-quarters of Virginia City).
List the top facts about Bonanza City, New Mexico
- The house contained a less-than-realistic carved figure of Ben Cartwright sitting at his desk, and of Hop Sing working in the kitchen.
- In the 1500s and 1600s, the Spanish took over the area.
- The only parts of the house that actually existed were the living room, dining room, kitchen, and office.
- Starting in September 2009, CBS Home Entertainment (distributed by Paramount) has to date released the first eleven seasons on DVD in Region 1.
- Episodes that were filmed entirely or in part at the ranch bear a title plate at the end of the credits.
- Portions of the last five seasons of the TV series and three television films were also filmed at that location.
For 14 years, Bonanza was the premier Western on American television. Reruns of the series have aired on several cable networks such as TV Land, INSP, Family Channel, the Hallmark Channel and Great American Faith & Living. The program’s Nevada set, the Ponderosa Ranch house, was recreated in Incline Village, Nevada, in 1967, and remained a tourist attraction until its sale thirty-seven years later in September 2004. This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in at least one season of the series. Though the population is speculated to have reached 2000, the only recorded number is 200 residents in 1884. There are 1 bank branches in Bonanza.Farmers Bank is the most popular bank in Bonanza with 1 branch offices.
Where Was ‘Bonanza’ Actually Filmed?
You may never have noticed Bonanza’s system of location work and set-dressing magic. But the long-running NBC Western made use of California sets, stock footage and scenery shots, and a famous Western street on a Paramount backlot—also used for other Western TV series of the era, including Have Gun-Will Bonanza City Travel and Branded. The ranch where the best-known opening sequence was shot was located near Lake Tahoe, Nevada—just as the Ponderosa was. It featured a more relaxed long shot of the cast on horseback before the Sierra Nevada. This ranch was also sold in 2020, making for headlines and memories of Bonanza’s heyday. In the episode « Enter Thomas Bowers », the Cartwright family helps the opera singer Thomas Bowers, an African-American freedman, after he encounters prejudice while in Virginia City to perform.
- The script was initially written for the departing David Canary’s Candy, but was rewritten for actors Ray Teal (Sheriff Roy Coffee) and Bing Russell (Deputy Clem Foster), who rarely appeared together on the show.
- It is scheduled to restart in January 2023, but not in New Mexico.
- The series takes place in Nevada Territory in 1849, which is actually an anachronism.
- The program’s Nevada set, the Ponderosa Ranch house, was recreated in Incline Village, Nevada, in 1967, and remained a tourist attraction until its sale thirty-seven years later in September 2004.
- All episodes have been digitally remastered from original 35 mm film elements to yield the best picture and sound quality possible with current technology.
What is the single most intriguing fact about Bonanza City, New Mexico?
Bonanza lies in Sebastian County, in the western part of Arkansas, USA. It is situated near the Arkansas-Oklahoma border and is part of the Fort Smith metropolitan area, located approximately 10 miles south of Fort Smith. The town provides a rural setting while being in close proximity to this significant urban center. Near the main house were sculptures of the horses ridden by Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker and Michael Landon that visitors could have their pictures taken either on or alongside of. The park also had a church that could be reserved for weddings near the church where the grave markers are located. In 2002, David Canary appeared at the ranch in Candy’s wardrobe for a special produced by PAX TV.
Background and production
In 1879, the U.S. government began selling land in New Mexico. Bonanza City Casino, launched in 2025 by Hollycorn N.V., delivers a thrilling and secure gaming experience for online players. Enjoy a Welcome Offer of up to $8,000 + 100 Free Spins and a 100% First Deposit Bonus up to $1,000 + 100 Free Spins. Access over 9,000 games from top providers like NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, and Pragmatic Play, including slots, blackjack, baccarat, video poker, and live casino. The platform supports fast and secure cryptocurrency payments, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, with withdrawals up to $15,000 per month. Licensed in Curacao and Costa Rica, Bonanza City Casino offers 24/7 customer support to ensure a safe and reliable experience for all users.
The Ponderosa experience
Very few of the original Bonanza episodes were shot at the theme park’s Virginia City site, although the town was prominently featured in three Bonanza television movies. Because the movies showcased the next generation of Cartwrights, they began circa 1905. The Ponderosa park expanded beyond the buggy era to include an exhibit featuring antique cars. It was a fledgling endeavor as tourists wanted to see horses flanked by Cartwright saddles.
Later in the twentieth century, The Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch, which contains a movie set depicting a late 19th century mining town, was built near the ruins of Bonanza City. The Pueblo have mined for turquoise in the hills as early as the 900s AD. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the colonizing Spanish used Pueblo slave labor to mine turquoise, as well as lead and silver.
The original plan was to open the set to tourists once filming had wrapped. However, shuttling cast and crew up to Incline Village on a weekly basis became cost-prohibitive. A majority of ranch-specific scenes were shot on a sound stage at Paramount Studios in Hollywood.
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