Yesterday I was watching a Bonanza episode and I had to go out on an errand and missed the ending (I don't have TiVo).

It was a surreal kind of Twilight Zone sort of episode. The Ponderosa was going to have a birthday party for Little Joe, but he's out in the desert somewhere, and ends up in this one town. He doesn't know anyone there, and they want him to be Sheriff, etc. He wants to leave, but they won't let him. But I don't know how it ended. I was thinking he was already back home for real and was just dreaming all this; that was my guess. Can anyone tell me how it ended?

if you know what the episode was called try looking on line for a guide or try looking through Bonanza guide to see if you come across the one that sounds like the description. i don't remember the episode you described but i'm sure i have it in my collection of bonanza,but a lot i never watched as i taped them lol.. I'm sure someone will come along and have the answer if you don't look through the guides

That sounds like an episode from 1963, called Twilight Town.

That sounds like an episode from 1963, called Twilight Town.

"Twilight Town"
October 13, 1963

A surprise birthday party awaits Little Joe at home, but he doesn't make the party. On the way home, he is ambushed and left for dead in the desert. He wanders into Martinville, an apparent ghost town, where he encounters a strange lot of people. They nurse him back to health, and ask him to be their sheriff. They're afraid of Felix Mathews, who has terrorized the town since Sheriff Obrion died. Joe thinks the whole town is spineless and asks for a horse to get home. They refuse to give him one, and the livery stable is deserted. He has no choice but to stay and fight. He faces Mathews alone, until two others, Corman and Masterson, join him. Joe manages to kill Mathews right before he collapses. He awakens to find his father and brothers standing over him; other than them, the town is completely deserted. Ben tells Joe about the legend of Martinville, about how the town lost its sheriff and is forever haunted by the ghosts of its cowardly citizens. Joe leaves believing he really did fight Felix Mathews. Did he?
Guest stars: Davey Davison, Stacy Harris

(Source: Bonanza: The Unofficial Story of the Ponderosa, by Melany Shapario (1993))

Thank you, guys for the information! Certainly a different kind of Bonanza episode, but very good. I love Bonanza! My ideal day would be not having anything to do and just eat snacks, drink coffee and watch back to back Bonanza episodes all day long. Ain't happened yet, but maybe one day :lol:
Thanks again.