The season begins with new opening credits featuring the four stars riding up and pausing for their close-ups. They were filmed in June 1961 at Bourne's Meadow, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Along with the new time slot, which paid off big for Bonanza, the series has new chapter title music accompanying the watercolor credits for producer, writers and directors. The watercolor credits were used through the end of the 1970-1971 season; the music was used for the next nine years, while an abridged version of "The Big Bonanza" theme came with the 1970-1971 season.