Bonanza City, New Mexico Wikipedia
This privately owned, production-ready location spans thousands of acres of uninterrupted Southwestern landscape, offering eight distinct sets, including an authentic Western Town, a Spanish Fort, and historic homesteads. The first Virginia City set used on the show from 1959–1970 was located on a back lot at Paramount. It was also used in episodes of Have Gun, Will Travel, Mannix and The Brady Bunch. In the 1970 Bonanza episode “The Night Virginia City Died”, Deputy Clem Foster’s pyromaniac fiancée leveled the town in a series of fires.
In 2002, David Canary appeared at the ranch in Candy’s wardrobe for a special produced by PAX TV. Bonanza’s first opening scene, in season 1, was shot on location at Lake Hemet in Mountain Center, California. It featured original cast Pernell Roberts, Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon on horseback in front of the San Jacinto Mountains. VE AG released Bonanza City the first seven seasons on DVD in Germany between 2008 and 2010. In 2011, StudioCanal acquired the rights to the series and have begun re-releasing it on DVD, and all seasons have now been released but have not been remastered. On October 21, 2021, the movie Rust was being filmed at Bonanza.
Bonanza filming locations
Nothing remained of the town but remnants of foundations. A movie set (Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch) was built near the remains and has been used for several films. Starting in September 2009, CBS Home Entertainment (distributed by Paramount) has to date released the first eleven seasons on DVD in Region 1. All episodes have been digitally remastered from original 35 mm film elements to yield the best picture and sound quality possible with current technology. CBSHE has released each season in two-volume sets (available together and separately). On May 23, 2023, the remaining seasons 12, 13 and 14 were released on DVD, as well as a box set of the complete series containing all 431 episodes on 112 DVDs.
Covering the time when the Cartwrights first arrived at the Ponderosa, when Adam and Hoss were teenagers and Joe a little boy, the series lasted 20 episodes and featured less gunfire and brawling than the original. Bonanza creator David Dortort approved PAX TV (now Ion TV)’s decision to hire Beth Sullivan, formerly of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, which some believe gave the series more depth as well as a softer edge. The Hop Sing character is depicted not only as a cook but also a family counselor and herbal healer. The series takes place in Nevada Territory in 1849, which is actually an anachronism. The opening scene for the first season was shot at Lake Hemet, a reservoir in the San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside County, California, and later moved to Lake Tahoe. 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.
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The nearest town to the Ponderosa was Virginia City, where the Cartwrights would go to converse with Sheriff Roy Coffee (played by veteran actor Ray Teal), or his deputy Clem Foster (Bing Russell). Bonanza City saw a small return of activity in the early 1900s. But the town was completely abandoned sometime in the early 20th century. Today, only building foundations and the ruins of the smelter remain.
Main cast
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- David Canary returned to his former role of Candy (to offset Hoss’ absence), and a new character named Griff King (played by Tim Matheson) was added in an attempt to lure younger viewers.
- CBSHE has released each season in two-volume sets (available together and separately).
- The ranch house was a single-story structure, although from the outside it appeared to have a second story.
- 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 Travel and Branded.
- In the 1500s and 1600s, the Spanish took over the area.
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This allowed for a switch to the less-expensive Warner Studios from September 1970 through January 1973. 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. In 2001, there was an attempt to revive the Bonanza concept with a prequel, Ponderosa—not to be confused with the 1972 summer reruns under the same title6—with a pilot directed by Simon Wincer and filmed in Australia.
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At that time most of the shows broadcast in syndication featured the Adam Cartwright character. His picture was in the group painting on the sign promoting the park at the entrance. When the park folded in autumn 2004 Pernell Roberts was still alive, so no Adam grave marker was added. The ranch where the best-known opening sequence was shot was located near Lake Tahoe, Nevada—just as the Ponderosa was.
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). This allowed for a switch to the less expensive Warner studios from September 1970 through January 1973.
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. Bonanza has had a highly profitable merchandising history. Currently, Bonanza Ventures, Inc. grants merchandising and licensing rights worldwide. Later that year, two miners found gold and silver there. By the end of 1880, over 500 mining shafts were open in the area. Bonanza City is a ghost town in New Mexico, 13 miles (21 km) southwest of Santa Fe.
Bonanza City is a ghost town, located 13miles southwest of Santa Fe in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States.1 The town was founded in 1880 as a mining town, following the discovery of gold and silver in the nearby Cerrillos Hills. The park opened to the public in 1968, complete with a scale replica of the Cartwright ranch house and barn similar to the ones seen on television.3 A replica of Virginia City was later added. 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. Outdoor scenes were filmed on location at nearby Big Bear Lake, Red Rock Canyon, Mojave, or eastern Kern County, California.
- The park also had a church that could be reserved for weddings near the church where the grave markers are located.
- The town was founded in 1880 as a mining town, following the discovery of gold and silver in the nearby Cerrillos Hills.
- This privately owned, production-ready location spans thousands of acres of uninterrupted Southwestern landscape, offering eight distinct sets, including an authentic Western Town, a Spanish Fort, and historic homesteads.
- In the 1970 Bonanza episode “The Night Virginia City Died”, Deputy Clem Foster’s pyromaniac fiancée leveled the town in a series of fires.
- For over 70 years, Bonanza Creek Ranch has served as a premier movie ranch and film location in New Mexico, featured in more than 150 films, television shows, and commercials.
- Occasionally, this wasn’t the case, as in the opening sequence or when Bonanza shot two-part 1966 episode “The Pursued” at Anchor Ranch, Lone Pine, California.
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