It was a time when families would gather around the
television set every Sunday evening to watch the exciting
lives of Hoss, “Little Joe,” Adam and Ben Cartwright on
their 600,000 acre ranch known as the Ponderosa in post
civil-war Virginia City, Nevada.

With a theme song that anyone could hum, the hit NBC
western series “Bonanza” enjoyed a successful fourteen-year
run from 1959 to 1973, and was second only to Gunsmoke as
the longest running and most successful western on the air.
As the first western in television history to be broadcast
in color, it was eventually dubbed into twelve languages
for international broadcast and reruns for generations to
follow.

The show and its cast sadly may be gone, but the “world” of
Bonanza still remains nestled in the tall Ponderosa trees
of Incline Village, Nevada. But as all good things must
end, the world-famous Ponderosa Ranch will also fade into
the sunset, when it is sold to private ownership next
month.

“The Ponderosa Ranch is a trip back in nostalgia for older
folks and is a good history lesson for the younger
generation,” said David Geddes, who is part owner/operator
of the family business.

The real story of the Ponderosa Ranch began in 1964 when
Bill & Joyce Anderson purchased 548 acres of pristine
property in Incline Village and opened the Incline Stables.
Soon thereafter NBC approached the Andersons to let the
land be used as the setting for the already popular western
television series, based on the life of widowed Ben
Cartwright and his three sons.

The Andersons not only had the right location, they had the
horses, buggies and other Western accessories needed to
authenticate the theme of the program. When the cast came
to shoot on location, the Andersons started taking pictures
of “The Cartwrights” and sold them as postcards. NBC
politely told them that they could not capitalize on
already one of the most popular TV series ever produced,
without a merchandizing agreement, which Bill Anderson
promptly sought.

“It always bothered me that tourists here at the lake were
forever hunting around for a place where the Ponderosa
Ranch might have been, and they couldn't find it,” Bill
Anderson said. “They wanted to see, in person, the
beautiful sprawling ranch they saw weekly on their
television screens. It had to be somewhere nearby, because
they had seen its location on the famous 'burning map' each
Sunday evening.”

Thus began the establishment of the Ranch at the lake and
Anderson's alliance with the National Broadcasting Company
and then the stars of production, Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker
and Michael Landon. The three stars became partners with
Anderson and The Ponderosa Ranch opened its doors to the
public in 1967. After 40 years of gunfights, haywagon
breakfasts and tours of the famous ranchhouse, The
Andersons and their family members, Royce Anderson, and
David & Jillaine Geddes who now operate the ranch, are
hanging up their spurs.

“It's always been a family business and we have had a lot
of fun running it and keeping the legacy alive,” Geddes
said. “As the second generation of owners we are always
looking for the highest and best use of the land. When the
value of the land far exceeds the business, it's time to
let go.”

With more than 250,000 guests that visit The Ponderosa each
year, the business has enjoyed a successful run and has
kept locals and tourist alike returning each season. The
revenues have not been strong enough however to compete
with the estimated price tag of $50,000,000 for the land.

In the meantime it is still bittersweet for a family that
has brought back the memories visitors hold dear of a time
and place that America can now only reflect on. Like the
television show it was the backdrop to, The Ponderosa Ranch
will remain in the hearts of generations and cultures
worldwide, who came to find the “burning spot” on the map
where their heroes will always live on.

The last chance to come and revisit a part of American
television history will be on September 27. Lake Tahoe
Lodging is offering special packages for this last-chance
opportunity. Please call 800-654-5253 or visit
www.LakeTahoeLodging.com http://www.LakeTahoeLodging.com
for more information.