Located in Dublin, Appletree was one of the early new-home communities built during the San Ramon Village development era. Developed by American Housing Guild in the mid-1960s, the neighborhood was part of the suburban expansion that transformed the rural landscape between Dublin and San Ramon.
When the model home complex opened on July 4, 1965, the community was introduced under the unusual name California Home Show, a title that sounded more like a public exhibition than a residential neighborhood. Advertisements promoted its grand opening as “the greatest home event in East Bay history,” introducing buyers to a new collection of homes and models.
 |
| July 1965 newspaper advertisement for California Home Show, the first name of the subdivision later known as Appletree. The grand opening campaign introduced American Housing Guild’s slogan “the greatest home event in East Bay history.” |
The name did not last. Within months, the community was renamed Redwing Valley before changing again to Appletree in 1967. While the reasons for each name change are unclear, the progression reflects the challenge of creating a lasting identity for a new suburban community. Between 1965 and 1968, American Housing Guild built approximately 161 homes, creating one of the more distinctive communities of the San Ramon Village era.
Where is Appletree?
The Appletree community shares an area with its larger neighbor, Ecco Park. Familiar street names include King Way and Prince Drive.
 |
| Annotated aerial map of the Appletree community in Dublin, California. Base imagery from Apple Maps. |
Selling the dream
American Housing Guild's marketing was often vague, relying more on ambiance than on specifics. Ads promised “beauty and charm,” but left out the part about the wall of windows or Monterey-style balconies. Prospective buyers had to see the homes in person to understand just how unique they really were.
 |
| October 1965 Oakland Tribune—before it was known as Appletree, it was known as Redwing Valley. The ad says the homes are beautiful, but you'd have to see for yourself. |
 |
| 1966 Oakland Tribune—the living room inside the New Pacific model, where the martinis are dry, the ceilings are high, and every lamp has a twin. |
 |
| 1967 Oakland Tribune ad—this expandable house promised room to grow—just add drywall, a second bath... maybe a contractor. The potential? Staggering. The reality? Depends how handy you are. |
 |
| 1967 Oakland Tribune—the unfinished second story of the Room Maker model. A dark place for mother and her antique sewing machine. Is it luxury... or punishment. You decide. |
Legacy of Appletree
By 1968, Appletree was fully built out. Though modest in size, the neighborhood became one of Dublin’s most memorable enclaves, offering homes with enough personality to withstand the decades—and the remodels.
Today, Appletree remains a sought-after neighborhood. You’ll find additions, paint changes, and solar panels—but underneath it all, the original homes are still standing proud. Still modern. Still optimistic. Still whispering a promise of space, light, and possibility.
Exploring the original Appletree today
Although the sales office is long gone and the advertisements have faded, the original Appletree model homes remain part of the neighborhood. These homes gave prospective buyers their first glimpse of American Housing Guild's vision for suburban living in 1965.
Today, they provide a tangible connection to Appletree's earliest days. The guide below documents the original model home complex, the homes themselves, and how they appear today.
Original advertised prices
- 1965: $19,950 - $23,950
- 1966 (Unit 2): $19,950 - $24,450
- 1966: $20,450 - $24,950
- 1967: $20,950 - $24,950
- 1968: $21,950 - $24,950
Original model home complex
Appletree's five original model homes were arranged on Tyne Court around a temporary sales complex that welcomed prospective buyers during the neighborhood's grand opening in 1965. While the sales office disappeared long ago, the model homes remain, allowing visitors to trace the neighborhood's beginnings more than fifty years later.
 |
| Annotated aerial map of the Appletree model home complex on Tyne Court. Base imagery from Apple Maps. |
Original model home designs
1. The Spanish Hacienda - This model offered approximately 1,855 square feet with 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
 |
| Original Spanish Hacienda model today via Google Street View. |
2. The New Pacifica - This model offered approximately 1,600 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
 |
| Original New Pacifica model today via Google Street View. |
3. The Old San Francisco - This model offered approximately 1,473 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
 |
| Original Old San Francisco model today (with second-story extension) via Google Street View. |
4. The California Ranch - This model offered approximately 1,276 to 1,491 square feet with up to 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
 |
| Original California Ranch model today (expanded in front) via Google Street View. |
5. The Room Maker - This model offered approximately 1,629 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. New for 1967. A flexible home for forward thinkers. It came with a simple idea—an unfinished upstairs that could become anything. Its very presence hinted at a growing desire for flexibility in home life.
 |
| Original Room Maker model today via Google Street View. |
Collections
Dublin — the neighborhoods that built a new city
This collection explores the new-home communities, builders, and neighborhoods that shaped Dublin during its principle years of suburban growth that gradually became the modern city.
The San Ramon Village collection explores the master-planned community that transformed former ranches and orchards into today's Dublin and South San Ramon. Although the name has largely disappeared, the neighborhoods, subdivisions, schools, parks, and shopping centers built as part of the original plan continue to shape the Tri-Valley.
Comments
Post a Comment