Valley Trails in Pleasanton (1968–1972): the park you could live in

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 lens—and it worked.

Location of the Valley Trails neighborhood in Pleasanton, California.

Pick a fine home... put it in a park

Inspired by the rise of greenbelt planning and following in the footsteps of Pleasanton Meadows, Valley Trails was designed by land planner Dudley Frost Jr. to do something different. Instead of squeezing every square foot for maximum buildout, he carved out a wide, winding greenbelt—part park, part playground, part shortcut to a school that, well, was supposed to exist.

The ads sold it all with poetic flair: “Your children will have room to roam, to run, to ramble with complete safety.”

And roam they did. Through the shade of young trees, past backyard gates and down a gentle hill, this was a Pleasanton where parents didn’t worry if their kids disappeared for hours—so long as they came home in time for dinner.

Ad from April 20, 1969. Note the early logo with the children walking away from Valley Trails.

A roof overhead, and choices, too

The homes themselves were classic Morrison—ranch-style with just enough variety to feel unique. Traditional shake roofs gave them that California texture, but budget-conscious buyers were offered a newfangled option: composite roofing. It was $500–$700 cheaper and caused just enough of a neighborhood debate to keep things interesting. (Spoiler: the world did not end. And yes, composite roofs are still there.)

Seven floor plans would roll out before the last home sold in 1972. From the modest Greenbriar House to the expandable Now and Future House (yes, really), there was something for every buyer—starter families, growing broods, and those dreaming of space to expand.

By 1970, children were walking towards Valley Trails.

Valley Trails model homes

The show home complex was on Sequoia Court. Initially, 4 models were available, growing to 7 by 1971.

Site of the Valley Trails model homes.

Pricing history
1968: $24,625 +
1969: $25,700 +
1970: $24,600 +
1971: $27,610 +
1972: $29,250 +

1. The Greenbriar House- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,311 sq. ft.

The original Greenbriar House model today (expanded).

2. The Four-Way House- 2 to 4 bedrooms, 1 to 2 bathrooms. Added in 1970. The Four-Way House was unique because we love having options. This home offered 4 variations of a floor plan.

The original Four-Way House model today.

From a 1970 Oakland Tribune ad—like the Winchester Mystery house, a plan full of surprises.

3. The Willow Wood House- 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,549 sq. ft.

The original Willow Wood House model today.

4. The Hillview House- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,834 sq. ft.

The original Hillview House model today.

5. The Now And Future House- 2 to 4 bedrooms, 1 to 2 bathrooms, up to 1,626 sq. ft. Added in 1970. An expandable house that either came with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom with an unfinished second-level, or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms fully finished.

The original Now And Future House model today.

6. The Valley View House- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,744 sq. ft.

The original Valley View House model today.

7. The Meadowfield - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,386 sq. ft. Added in mid-1971.

The original Meadowfield model today.

A school that never was

Ah, the school site—the crown jewel of the Valley Trails vision. Or it would have been, had it ever materialized.

In the early days, brochures promised a school at the end of the trail—a quiet little campus right within the neighborhood. But as the years ticked by and budgets tightened, reality hit. The Pleasanton Unified School District, struggling with finances and logistics, eventually abandoned the plan. Nearby Donlon Elementary in Val Vista sat under-capacity, and the dream of a walkable school faded like a chalk drawing on Sequoia Court.

By the time the land was finally filled in—nearly 50 years later—it was with more houses, not students.

Foundations and futures

Valley Trails sold out in 1972, and its reputation settled somewhere between beloved and quirky. Rumors of foundation issues—thanks to the nearby creeks and soft soil—have circulated for decades. Whether true or not, they’ve helped keep prices relatively “affordable” by Pleasanton standards, making it a quiet favorite for families who don’t mind a little character under their feet.

And despite its missed-school moment, Valley Trails has endured. Its heart—the central park, the rambling trail, the mid-century optimism—is still beating.

A community on a trail

Fifty years later, the promises made in those 1969 ads still echo faintly in the morning breeze. Children do still roam. Neighbors still chat beneath shady trees. And that park, though no longer leading to a school, still leads to something just as important: a sense of place.

Because in Valley Trails, it wasn’t just the houses that made a neighborhood—it was the idea that living could be gentler, greener, and just a little magical.