Ponderosa Ranch

"My Father was an Upholster my whole life. I was the last of 5 kids. Before I was born, my dad had already restored the interior of 1/8 of Harris car collection. So when I was 8 my dad was asked to restore the furniture for the set in Tahoe, to mimic the set in Hollywood. So much fun. I sold the very large ponderosa pine cones for $ .50..."

"Sorry that it's gone. My wife took me there back in the 80's. It was pretty cool, the ranch house was nice, and we had a Hoss burger and a root beer. The root beer came in a tin cup with a picture of the Ponderosa on it. We still have them. It also had a beautiful view of the lake. Also there was a covey of Quail right outside the ranch house, my wife loved that."

"This was a great attraction, back in the day. We always had to take our German relatives to go and see it, everytime they visited us here in California. Years later, my wife and I were married at the Chapel there. It was a real Chapel moved from Arizona to the Ponderosa set for use in Bonanza, and it was over 100+ years old when we were married there 22 years ago, yesterday! Unfortunately, it went under and was sold to a tech mogul who is trying to develop it into something else, I heard, 10+ years ago. Not sure where that is at, now. So basically, it's closed."

"I have fond memories of watching Bonanza with my grandma back when I was a little kid. Also back in the early 90's, I was living down the hill in Reno. My parents came over to visit me during that time. The Ponderosa was one of the places my parents and I visited - more fond memories. I still have the Pondersoa coffee mug I got when I was there with them - and I still use it too. I'm sorry to see this place closed down. I hope someday it someone reopens it for something such as a museum i nothing else."

"My brand new hubby and I visited in 1990 as part of our honeymoon trip. We were married in Carson City that year. When we visited the Ponderosa Ranch, we had a blast. We got to chase a pig and pet and feed the animals as well as tour the place. Growing up watching Bonanza we had to visit. What a great place it WAS. I say WAS because it was bought and shut down. What a hortible SHAME. this place was cool. There was Hoss' mystery mine, Hoss Burgers which were fabulous!! They also had the best HUGE pickles..The place was beautiful. The church there was beautiful too. We wanted to do our wedding there but it was too expensive. I can't tell you over the years how many people visited but it's a real shame that GREED took over and took the place of history and memories. This place will, as I have heard, NEVER be again. I am very sad as we would have loved to go back there before we got too old to travel that far from home. I would only give it one star but we had a great time there"