Nestled on northeast shore of Lake Tahoe in the community of Incline Village, the Ponderosa Ranch theme park was a slice of Wild West nostalgia that captured visitors’ imaginations for nearly four decades. Based on the legendary television series Bonanza, this 570-acre attraction offered families a chance to step into the world of the Cartwright family and experience frontier life firsthand.

The park’s origins trace back to 1965, when Bill and Joyce Anderson, who owned a small horse ranch in the area, had the idea to capitalize on Bonanza’s massive popularity. The TV series, which aired from 1959 to 1973, had made the fictional Ponderosa Ranch a household name across America. The Andersons’ property was located in roughly the same area as the Cartwright family’s ranch on the show’s iconic burning map introduction. In fact, it is said that more than a few tourists had showed up at the Anderson property specifically looking for the Ponderosa Ranch. 

Opening its gates in 1967 (some sources say 1968), the Ponderosa Ranch theme park quickly became a must-see destination for tourists visiting Lake Tahoe. The centerpiece was a full-scale replica of the Cartwright ranch house, complete with authentic furnishings and memorabilia from the show. Visitors could explore Ben Cartwright’s study, see Little Joe’s bedroom, and wander through the same rooms they’d watched on television every Sunday night.

Western activities like horseback riding, stagecoach rides, and, of course, gunfight shows were available to all. The park also featured a frontier town complete with a saloon, general store, and blacksmith shop. Kids especially loved panning for gold and watching cowboys demonstrate their skills with lassos and six-shooters.

What made the attraction special was its genuine connection to the TV series. While most of Bonanza was filmed on Hollywood soundstages, portions of the last five seasons and three television movies were actually shot on-location at the ranch. This gave visitors the thrill of walking on actual Bonanza sets, not just replicas.

The park thrived for decades, drawing families from across the country who wanted to experience a piece of television history. Even after Bonanza ended its network run in 1973, the Ponderosa Ranch remained incredibly popular. By the early 2000s, it was still attracting around 200,000 visitors annually.

However, all good things must come to an end, an in 2004 the property was sold and the park closed. 

The closure marked the end of an era. For nearly 37 years, the Ponderosa Ranch had provided countless families with memories of campfire singalongs, horseback adventures, and the simple joy of stepping into their favorite TV show.

The Ponderosa Ranch represented something uniquely American — the intersection of television culture, Western mythology, and family entertainment. Its closure reminds us that even the most beloved attractions can fade into history, leaving behind only memories and the hope that somewhere, the spirit of the Old West lives on.