Tri-Valley Tract Tales

From 1964 to 1979, Pleasanton Valley quietly transformed Pleasanton from a rural crossroads into a thriving hometown. Developed by Morrison Homes on the former Orloff Ranch, this neighborhood became one of the city’s largest and most defining suburban expansions—home to over 1,470 families. For fifteen straight years, it gave Pleasanton something new to look at on a quiet Sunday: a fresh model home to tour, a new dream to imagine. Location of the Pleasanton Valley neighborhood in Pleasanton, California. Locals often called it “Birdland” or “The Woods,” thanks to the whimsical street names inspired by birds and trees. But the names weren’t what made Pleasanton Valley special. It was the families. Generations of kids rode bikes past new construction, splashed through sprinklers in front yards, and chased each other through parks and cul-de-sacs. Nearly everyone in Pleasanton at the time either lived there, had a friend there, or remembers growing up just a few streets away. Attracte...

Explore the Valley Trails neighborhood in Pleasanton, built by Morrison Homes between 1968 and 1972. With a park-like greenbelt, iconic model homes, and a vision for family living, Valley Trails remains one of the East Bay’s most charming planned communities. A new kind of neighborhood Between 1968 and 1972, something new took root just off Hopyard Road in Pleasanton. Valley Trails wasn’t just another grid of streets and sidewalks—it was Morrison Homes’ bold take on what the American suburb could be: green, safe, spacious, and just a little idealistic. Set across 140 gently sloping acres, this community would eventually grow to 488 homes. But from the start, it was never just about the homes. Morrison had something else in mind—a trail, in fact. A long, landscaped park right through the center of the neighborhood, where kids could walk to school (eventually), play safely, and ramble without a single car in sight. It was Pleasanton’s version of urban planning with a soft focus len...