Pleasanton Valley: the neighborhood that raised a generation

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.

Attracted by the town’s rural charm and lively downtown, buyers snapped up homes as fast as Morrison could build them. The neighborhood offered more than just houses—it brought life to the area with new parks, schools like Walnut Grove Elementary and Harvest Park Middle, and community staples like the Pleasanton Valley Swim Club. It had everything a growing family needed.

From the Oakland Tribune in June 1964—four bedrooms, one ironing board, and a future full of PTA meetings. In Pleasanton Valley, the skies are bluer, the kids are cleaner, and the casseroles practically bake themselves. Isn’t it time you lived the dream?

From the Oakland Tribune in June 1965—long summer days, the smell of Coppertone and chlorine, and the echo of kids laughing at Pleasanton Valley Swim Club. Some readers might remember Mr. Volonte, the beloved Amador Valley High teacher.

Pleasanton Valley model homes (1964)

The first model complex opened on Greentree Court in August 1964.

Site of the first Pleasanton Valley model homes.

Pricing history
1964: $20,300 +
1965: $20,750 - $25,600

1. The Terrace House - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,970 sq. ft.

The original Terrace House model today.

2. The Country House - 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,540 sq. ft.

The original Country House model today.

3. The Arbor House - 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,716 sq. ft.

The original Arbor House model today (with second-story addition).

4. The Garden House - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.

The original Garden House model today (with addition).

5. The Monterey House - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,047 sq. ft. Added in 1965.

The original Monterey House model today.

The 1966 release of Pleasanton Valley

When a second phase opened in the Walnut Grove section, Morrison made good use of the land’s agricultural past. New homes were built on oversized lots—up to 11,000 square feet—and came with up to six mature walnut trees from the original orchard. It was these thoughtful touches that helped Pleasanton Valley feel like more than just a subdivision. It felt rooted, lived-in, real.

From the Oakland Tribune in March 1967—phase II asked, ‘are you ready?’ If your weekly errands required a supply chain and a clipboard, the answer was yes. These homes were built for families who needed a little more square footage—and maybe a dedicated pantry for canned goods.

Pleasanton Valley model homes (1966)

The second model complex opened on Meadowwood Court in 1966.

Site of the second Pleasanton Valley model homes.

Pricing history
1966: $23,900 - $31,950
1967: $25,250 - $33,350
1968: $28,000 - $35,200

1. The Country House - 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,752 or 1,912 sq. ft.

The original Country House model today.

2. The Gatewood House- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,103 sq. ft.

The original Gatewood House model today (with second-story addition).

Ad for the Gatewood House from June 5, 1966.

3. The Heritage House - 6 bedrooms or 5 with a retreat, 3 bathrooms, 2,560 sq. ft.

The original Heritage House model today.

4. The Terrace House - 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,540 or 1,732 sq. ft. 

The original Terrace House model today.

5. The Holiday House - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,179 sq. ft.

The original Holiday House model today.

6. The Monterey House - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,085 sq. ft.

The original Monterey House model today.

The original Monterey House with gas lamppost from September 1968.

7. The Arbor House - 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,854 sq. ft. Added in 1967.

The original Arbor House model today.

Ad introducing the Arbor House from February 1967.

8. The Casual American House - 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,730 sq. ft. Designed by George A. Swallow, AIA, and added in 1968.

The original Casual American House model today (remodeled).

9. The Portico House - 4 bedrooms or 3 with a retreat, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,227 sq. ft. A tri-level home designed by George A. Swallow, AIA, added in 1968.

The original Portico House model today.

The "Something Special" era (1969)

By 1969, Morrison Homes pushed the envelope with what many still consider its finest series: Something Special. Designed by architect Jack Bloodgood, AIA, and brought to life with the stylish interiors of Julie Sherman, these homes redefined what suburban living could be. The launch was a spectacle — crowds poured into the Elmridge Court model complex to see features like vaulted ceilings, master suites with private retreats, and sunken conversation areas that felt pulled from a Sunset Magazine spread.

Homes like the Regency House and Gallery House weren’t just floor plans — they were aspirations built in wood and stucco. The community grew deeper, more personal. Neighbors didn’t just know each other — they compared notes on which model they’d picked, or which remodel they were considering next.

From the Oakland Tribune in February 1969—phase III (Something Special series) brought drama. Glass! Pits! Ceilings that soared! Five new models delivered everything the modern homemaker never knew she needed—including a garden-view kitchen perfect for contemplating dinner... or escape.

From the Oakland Tribune in March 1969—the grand staircase in the Regency House: where elegance meets surveillance. Keep an eye on the kids from above while making every step a statement.

Pleasanton Valley Something Special model homes (1969-1974)

The third model complex opened on Elmridge Court in February 1969. It closed out in late 1974.

Site of the third Pleasanton Valley Something Special model homes.

Pricing history
1969: $30,500 +
1970: $31,250 - $38,750
1971: $35,725 - $43,000
1972: $39,800 - $47,900
1973: $39,900 - $50,450
1974: (closeout) $55,400 - $69,300

1. The Woodhaven House - 4 bedrooms or 3 with a retreat, 2 bathrooms, 1,808 sq. ft.

The original Woodhaven House model today.

2. The Miramar House - 4 bedrooms or 3 with a retreat, 2.5 bedrooms, 2,093 sq. ft.

The original Miramar House model today.

The Miramar House floor plan from July 18, 1971.

3. The Regency House - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,338 sq. ft.

The original Regency House model today.

4. The Gallery House - 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2,110 sq. ft.

The original Gallery House model today.

5. The Colony House - 4 bedrooms or 3 with a retreat, 2 bathrooms, 1,931 sq. ft. This was the best selling model of all time, and an updated version from the previous home series.

The original Colony House model today.

The 1976 release of Pleasanton Valley

Opening in March of 1976, a fourth line of Pleasanton Valley homes became available. Aimed primarily at executive buyers with growing families, homes included cathedral ceilings, exposed wood beams, conversation pits, and wax-free vinyl floors. By late 1977, all 79 homes built from this series were sold.

From the Oakland Tribune in June 1976—A return to elegance.

Pleasanton Valley model homes (1976)

The fourth model complex opened on Dudley Court.

Site of the fourth Pleasanton Valley model homes.

Pricing history
1976: $72,450 +
1977: approximately $100,000

1. The 174 - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,736 sq. ft.

The original 174 model today.

2. The 2216 - 4 bedrooms or 3 with a retreat or den, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,164 sq. ft.

The original 2216 model today.

3. The 2213 - 4 bedrooms or 3 with a retreat or den, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,134 sq. ft.

The original 2213 model today.

A conversation pit in the 2213 from October 1976.

4. The 183 - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,831 sq. ft.

The original 183 model today.

Creeks Bend and the final act

As the neighborhood matured, so did Pleasanton. Urban growth and new limits on expansion slowed development in the 1970s, but Morrison had one last act: Creeks Bend—a small but distinct area south of Del Valle Parkway. With just 65 homes, it was a more intimate close to a large-scale project. Still, the model homes drew the same Sunday crowds. People came to tour homes like the Meadowbrook or the spacious Meadowcreek, imagining one last chance to be part of the neighborhood that had defined Pleasanton’s growth for more than a decade.

By the end of 1979, the final lots were sold, and Pleasanton Valley was complete.

Ad for Creeks bend from 1979.

Pleasanton Valley Creeks Bend model homes (1979)

The fifth model complex opened on Dudley Court in 1979.

Site of the fifth Pleasanton Valley Creeks Bend model homes.

Pricing history
1979: $109,950 +

1. The Meadowbrook (2215) - 4 bedrooms or 3 with a retreat or den, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,194 sq. ft.

The original Meadowbrook model today.

2. The Lakeside (183) - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,831 sq. ft.

The original Lakeside model today.

3. The Heatherspring (2216) - 4 bedrooms or 3 with a retreat or den, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,164 sq. ft.

The original Heatherspring model today.

4. The Meadowcreek (2237) - 5 bedrooms or 4 with a den, 3 bathrooms, 2.365 sq. ft.

The original Meadowcreek model today.

A neighborhood that raised a town

Pleasanton Valley wasn’t just a place to live — it became a place to grow up. By the mid-70s, generations were already overlapping: the first kids to ride their bikes to Walnut Grove Elementary were now babysitting the next round of toddlers. The Pleasanton Valley Swim Club, school carnivals, and weekend garage sales stitched together a sense of place that few other neighborhoods could match.

In many ways, Morrison Homes didn’t just build houses — it built Pleasanton’s memory lane. It built the backdrop to birthday parties, high school graduations, and backyard barbecues that turned neighbors into lifelong friends.