Dublin's Ecco Park: 1965–1969 homes & subdivision history

Cover photo of a two-story home in Dublin’s Ecco Park neighborhood, built between 1965 and 1969. The house features a classic mid-century suburban design with a front-facing garage, simple lines, and minimal ornamentation—typical of the practical yet spacious homes built during Dublin’s first major wave of development.

Welcome to Ecco Park

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.

Where is Ecco Park? Location of this iconic 1960s suburb

Map showing the location of Ecco Park, a mid-century subdivision in Dublin, California, developed between 1965 and 1969.
Map of the Ecco Park neighborhood in Dublin, California, with Wells Middle School and Valley High School at its nucleus.

The dream begins: Ecco Park opens in 1965 with flair and affordability

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.

1965 newspaper ad for Ecco Park homes in Dublin, California, announcing the subdivision's launch; 40 homes sold in the first 14 days.
From the Oakland Tribune in August 1965—Ecco Park made a splashy debut, selling 40 homes in just 14 days. It wasn’t just affordable—it had flair.

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.”

Newspaper photo from 1966 showing a shower in Ecco Park with a full-length window—aka the “Sun-Ray” bathroom.
The infamous "Sun-Ray" bathroom—natural light or neighborhood theater?

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.

1966 newspaper photo of Hy Weisel, the developer of Ecco Park, known for colorful marketing and accessible home pricing.
Hy Weisel, the showman behind Ecco Park—and other eyebrow-raising developments.

The homes of Ecco Park

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 showing the model home complex for Ecco Park in Dublin, California, developed by Proud Homes in the mid-1960s.
Map of the original Ecco Park model homes on Amador Valley Boulevard in Dublin.

Pricing history

  • 1965: $17,950 - $20,950
  • 1966: $20,250 +
  • 1967: $19,450 - $25,250
  • 1968: $23,000 - $26.925
  • 1969: $24,950 - $29,450

Model homes

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

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

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

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

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

Vintage photo of the Laguna model’s family room featuring a built-in wet bar, circa late 1960s.
A proper party starter: the family room wet bar in the Laguna model.

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

7. The El Dorado - 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,257 sq. ft. Added in 1967 to lower the starting price of the neighborhood.

Ecco Park today

Here are the former model homes as they appear today.

The Newcastle today

The original Newcastle model home from Ecco Park, a 3-bed, 2-bath mid-century house with 1,464 sq. ft.
The Newcastle model today, a classic mid-century ranch with its original single-story footprint and clean, horizontal lines still visible from the street.

The Newport today

The original Newport model from Ecco Park, a 4-bedroom, 2-bath home with 1,602 sq. ft., built circa 1965.
The Newport model, once known for its spacious 4-bedroom plan and wide front elevation, retains its distinctive low-slung roofline and broad facade.

The Coronado today

The original Coronado model from Ecco Park, a 3-bedroom, 2-bath mid-century home with 1,268 sq. ft.
The Coronado model today, a compact 3-bedroom home with preserved original features like archway and its central entry layout.

The Bayview today

The original Bayview model from Ecco Park, a compact 3-bed, 2-bath home with 1,060 sq. ft.
The Bayview model remains one of Ecco Park’s most modest homes, with its original 1,060-square-foot design still visible despite modern updates.

The Laguna today

The original Laguna model from Ecco Park, a 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath home with 1,830 sq. ft., built in 1966.
The Laguna model, added in 1966, brought a larger two-story option to the neighborhood. Today, it stands as a landmark of the Ecco Park buildout.

The Balboa today

The original Balboa model home from Ecco Park, a 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath house built in 1967, known for its popularity and layout.
The popular Balboa model, introduced in 1967, blended traditional and modern elements in a two-story layout. Many versions today feature only minor exterior changes.

The El Dorado today

The original El Dorado model from Ecco Park, a 2-bedroom, 2-bath home with 1,257 sq. ft., added in 1967.
The El Dorado model, a compact 2-bedroom introduced in 1967 to attract budget-conscious buyers, remains a rare but charming part of the neighborhood’s history.

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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