TheAutry.org »

Map by Robert Temple Ayres of the fictional Ponderosa Ranch and surroundings used in television series Bonanza, 1959. The map was displayed in the opening credits of the television series Bonanza, which aired from 1959 to 1973. The map was commissioned by David Dortort, the creator and producer of Bonanza, and was drawn by Robert Temple Ayres, a set illustrator at Warner Bros., working under the direction of Bonanza art director Earl Hedrick. The illustrated map is done in a style to make it look like it is from the middle of the 1800s, the time period depicted in the show. Locations on the map include the Ponderosa Ranch, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Virginia City, and Carson City. The compass rose was added at the request of David Dortort, the series creator and producer. Upon seeing the map, Dortort realized that it was drawn inaccurately. The map shows Virginia City to the north of Lake Tahoe when in reality Virginia City is to the east of Lake Tahoe. With production on the series about to begin, it was too late to completely redo the map so Dortort had the compass added so the locations would technically be correct.