Ecco Park: suburbia with a peep show

Ecco Park logo

Step back into a time when station wagons ruled the road, lawn flamingos stood proud, and some homeowners in Dublin, California bathed with a little extra sunshine—and maybe an audience.

Welcome to Ecco Park, one of Dublin’s largest and most colorful subdivisions, built between 1965 and 1969 by the ever-resourceful and slightly theatrical Hy Weisel of Proud Homes. With nearly 650 homes and a reputation for both value and verve, this wasn’t your average postwar neighborhood.

Map of Ecco Park Dublin California
Location of the Ecco Park neighborhood in Dublin, California.

The dream begins

Ecco Park opened to the public on Sunday, August 29, 1965, with prices starting at a dreamy $17,950. The lots were smaller—under 6,000 sq. ft.—but what they lacked in land, they made up for in flair.

Hy Weisel wasn’t just building homes—he was building a lifestyle. One with sunken family rooms, oversized garages, acoustical ceilings (yes, the infamous “popcorn”), cultured-marble vanities, and Redwood fencing that offered privacy from every angle—well, almost every angle.

40 homes sold in the first 14 days.

A shower with a surprise

Ah yes, the legend of the "Sun-Ray" bathroom. Select models in Ecco Park came equipped with a full-length window right in the shower. Was it for natural light? Architectural drama? Suburban exhibitionism? You decide. What’s certain is that it gave new meaning to “good morning, neighbors.”

Hy Weisel: the man, the myth, the marketer

Hy Weisel wasn’t your average developer. He had a knack for selling homes during the tight-money years of 1966–67, and a naming style all his own. (He built other subdivisions called “Yum Yum” and “Ooh La La” in San Jose—we kid you not.)

While neighboring developments like Redwing Valley and Villa de San Ramon struggled to sell, Ecco Park thrived. Hy swooped in, bought their lots, and kept building. Thanks to $0 down and $99 closing costs, families who once thought homeownership was out of reach found themselves settling into sunken living rooms and shag carpeted bliss.

Ecco Park model homes

The model complex kicked off on Amador Valley Boulevard, showcasing four homes in 1965, with three more added by 1967. Each model had its own personality—and plenty of space for cocktail hour.

Map of Ecco Park model homes
Site of the Ecco Park model homes.

1. The Newcastle - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,464 sq. ft.

Ecco Park Newcastle model
The original Newcastle model today.

2. The Newport - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,602 sq. ft.

Ecco Park Newport model
The original Newport model today.

3. The Coronado - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,268 sq. ft.

Ecco Park Coronado model
The original Coronado model today.

4. The Bayview - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,060 sq. ft.

Ecco Park Bayview model
The original Bayview model today.

5. The Laguna - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,830 sq. ft. Added in 1966.

Ecco Park Laguna model
The original Laguna model today.

A fabulous wetbar in the family room of the Laguna.

6. The Balboa - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,610 to 1,625 sq. ft. Added in 1967 and very popular.

Ecco Park Balboa model
The original Balboa model today.

7. The El Dorado - 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,257 sq. ft. Added in 1967.

Ecco Park El Dorado model
The original El Dorado model today.

The final stretch

In 1969, Ecco Park made a final push across Amador Valley Boulevard, planting a few homes on Emerald Avenue. These lots, cheekily acquired from the fading Villa de San Ramon, marked the end of an era. By late 1969, Ecco Park had sold out, its streets echoing with the sound of kids on bikes and the distant hiss of garden hoses on concrete.

A legacy in stucco and glass

Today, Ecco Park remains a beloved time capsule of suburban optimism. It’s where the lawns were manicured, the garages were oversized, and, in a few lucky homes, the shower came with a spectacular view.

Because in Ecco Park, privacy was optional—but style was not.

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