San Ramon's Country Club Estates: 1965 homes & subdivision history

Cover photo of a large, two-story mansion in San Ramon’s Country Club Estates, built in 1965 along the golf course. The home features grand Colonial-inspired architecture with tall columns, a symmetrical façade, and expansive landscaping—reflecting the luxury and prestige of mid-1960s executive housing.

Welcome to Country Club Estates

Volk-McLain didn’t just build homes—they staged a moment. And in February 1965, their final act in San Ramon was a showstopper: Country Club Estates, a luxury subdivision tucked inside the San Ramon Country Club. These weren’t starter homes. These were golf-course-facing, architect-designed, casually extravagant statements of status—and they knew it.

Map showing the location of Country Club Estates in San Ramon, California, highlighting the model homes along Firecrest Lane within the neighborhood.
Map of Country Club Estates subdivision in the San Ramon Golf Club. Just 10 homes were built; the rest were filled in by the Fairway Hills subdivision

A new definition of "big"

In 1965, the average home in America was a modest 1,415 square feet and cost about $16,250. Country Club Estates blew right past that. These homes averaged 2,281 square feet and came with a price tag pushing $46,000. The word "luxury" got tossed around a lot in the '60s—but here, it actually applied.

You won’t find many ads for Country Club Estates, because they didn’t need them. The homes sold themselves. Real estate writers showed up with notepads in hand. The same kind of coverage Blackhawk would earn two decades later? This did it first.

From a February 1965 Oakland Tribune—to kick things off at Country Club Estates in San Ramon, someone produced an obscenely large gold key. Subtlety not included.
From a February 1965 Oakland Tribune—to kick things off, someone produced an obscenely large gold key, the kind you’d expect to open a bank vault or a Bond villain’s wine cellar.

The homes of Country Club Estates

If you were house hunting in early ’65, you might’ve wandered through the model homes on Firecrest Lane—four along the curve, with a fifth tucked just around the corner on Winged Foot Place. Neoclassical Revival was the architectural flavor of the day, and designer Dave Johnson, AIA, made sure it was served with a side of grandeur.

Map showing the Country Club Estates model homes in San Ramon, California, highlighting the model homes along Firecrest Lane within the neighborhood.
Map of the Country Club Estates model homes on Firecrest Lane between Alcosta Boulevard and Winged Foot Place.

Pricing history

  • 1965: $27,295 - $46,000

Model homes

1. The Plan 1 - 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2,482 sq. ft. A full-on Neoclassical fantasy—columns, symmetry, presence. This was the “take my coat and mix me a Manhattan” of floor plans.

2. The Plan 2 - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,118 sq. ft. Lush, roomy, and efficient—because luxury doesn’t always need to show off.

Vintage 1965 Oakland Tribune photo of the Plan 2 model home, framed by mature olive trees that draw attention as much as the house itself, showcasing the lush, roomy suburban setting.
From a 1965 Oakland Tribune ad—we came to look at the homes, but the mature olive trees they installed stole the show.

3. The Monticello Colonial - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,292 sq. ft. A personal favorite of Henry J. Cupples, longtime Volk-McLain sales director. After selling hundreds of homes in San Ramon, this was the one he chose to live in. Fitting. It’s basically a suburban castle with patriotic undertones.

4. The Riviera - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,400 sq. ft. Venetian flair meets California sunshine. Only one was ever built, making it the unicorn of Firecrest Lane. Elegant and symmetrical with a dash of drama.

Vintage newspaper photo of the Riviera model home from a 1965 Contra Costa Times ad, highlighting its distinctive and grand garage door as a key feature of its elegant Mediterranean-inspired design.
From a 1965 Contra Costa Times ad—to appreciate its splendor back in the day, you had to see this garage door.

5. The Plan 5 - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,729 sq. ft. The smallest of the bunch, but still far from modest.

Country Club Estates today

Here are the original model homes as they appear today.

The Plan 1 today

Current photo of the former Plan 1 model home, showcasing its Neoclassical style with prominent columns, a symmetrical façade, and a commanding entryway—channeling refined grandeur in a suburban setting.
The original Plan 1 model today.

The Plan 2 today

Modern-day view of the Plan 2 model home, with a wide front lawn, understated architectural details, and a spacious yet practical layout that blends comfort with quiet elegance.
The original Plan 2 model today, with original olive tree.

The Monticello Colonial today

Today’s photo of the Monticello Colonial model home—classic red brick, white trim, and proud symmetry evoke colonial charm with an air of Americana, once chosen as the personal residence of Volk-McLain’s own sales director.
The original Monticello Colonial model today.

The Riviera today

Contemporary photo of the one-of-a-kind Riviera model on Firecrest Lane, featuring arched windows, stucco walls, and Mediterranean-inspired elegance that sets it apart as the rarest home of its kind in the neighborhood.
The original Riviera model today.

The Plan 5 today

Current image of the former Plan 5 model home, modest in size but rich in detail, with a welcoming front porch, manicured landscaping, and timeless curb appeal.
The original Plan 5 model today (expanded).

A curtain call

By mid-1965, Volk-McLain—after five long years of building San Ramon from scratch—was ready to exit the stage. After just ten homes in Country Club Estates, they sold the rest of the lots to Alpha Homes, who rebranded the remaining development as Fairway Hills.

And just like that, the original builders of San Ramon bowed out. Their final project wasn’t the biggest, but it may have been the boldest.

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