Developed by H.C. Elliott between 1970 and 1976, Vintage Hills occupies roughly 139 acres on what was once vineyard-covered terrain. With 472 homes overlooking the Amador Valley, the neighborhood quickly became a coveted spot for buyers looking for charm, views, and something just a little different.
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| August 1970 Oakland Tribune ad—a world apart at its grand opening—where the views were sweeping, the model complex was miles away, and the dream was worth the detour. |
Where Vintage Hills is located in Pleasanton
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| Annotated aerial map of H. C. Elliott's homes in the Vintage Hills neighborhood in Pleasanton, California. Base imagery from Google Maps. |
The grand opening & early sales
Vintage Hills launched with a grand opening on August 23, 1970, but homes weren’t actually sold on-site. Early sales were conducted through Elliott’s Pleasanton Meadows office—freeway-close, but nowhere near the hills. Prospective buyers had to follow a winding trail of turns to get there, making the journey feel more like a treasure hunt than a house hunt.
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| October 1970 Contra Costa Times newspaper clipping—finding Vintage Hills was half the adventure, but the views made it all worth it. |
Despite the detour, it worked: by 1974, 339 homes had been sold across the first 100 acres. A housing moratorium paused development for over a year, but when sales resumed in 1975, interest was so strong that some buyers camped out overnight to secure a lot. Another 133 homes were built between 1975 and 1976, rounding out the original H.C. Elliott development.
Selling the subdivision
Architecturally, Vintage Hills stood apart. Elliott offered homes in four styles—Spanish, Traditional, Ranch, and Colonial—but it was the Spanish-style models that stole the show. Dramatic arches, sometimes in singles, doubles, or even triples, created a visual rhythm throughout the neighborhood. These weren’t just decorative—they embodied the open, inviting lifestyle that Elliott was selling.
In 1973, Elliott introduced a feature that would become a legend in Vintage Hills: the curvilinear kitchen. Installed in homes like the Huntington model, these rounded kitchens flowed effortlessly into family rooms, enhancing both movement and sightlines. A pass-through window to the patio added functionality and flair—perfect for backyard parties, lemonade stands, or sneakily passing snacks outside. More than just a novelty, these kitchens were unforgettable.
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| March 1973 Oakland Tribune newspaper clipping—double the arches, double the charm—Vintage Hills knew how to make an entrance. |
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| February 1972 Oakland Tribune newspaper clipping—triple arches, because subtlety was never the point—Vintage Hills brought drama to the driveway. |
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| March 1973 Oakland Tribune newspaper clipping—why be square? Vintage Hills’ round kitchen floor plans turned every meal into a conversation piece. |
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| 1973 newspaper ad—the debut of The Huntington model — a 4-bedroom Pleasanton home featuring a distinctive round kitchen, reflecting the era’s suburban growth and design trends. |
Legacy of Vintage Hills
Though the original H.C. Elliott era ended in 1976, Great American Homes picked up where Elliott left off, developing additional homes in 1978–79 under the same Vintage Hills name. The neighborhood’s charm endured, and its identity remained intact.
Today, Vintage Hills is as inviting as ever. Its famous arches still welcome visitors with a smile, and those bold round kitchens continue to spark curiosity and conversation. It’s a neighborhood shaped not just by its architecture, but by its spirit—a place where the homes are as full of personality as the people who live in them.
Exploring the original H. C. Elliott Vintage Hills today
Although the sales office is long gone and the advertisements have faded, the original Vintage Hills model homes remain part of the neighborhood. These homes gave prospective buyers their first glimpse of H. C. Elliott's vision for suburban living in 1970.
Today, they provide a tangible connection to Vintage Hills' earliest days. The guide below documents the original model home complex, the homes themselves, and how they appear today.
The original prices
- 1970: $25,950 - $31,950
- 1971: $26,950 - $34,200
- 1972: $28,500 - $36,750
- 1973: $34,950 - $43,950
- 1974: $35,950 +
- 1975: $44,500 - $59,000
- 1976: $46,950 - $59,950
The first original model home complex (1970)
Homes from H.C. Elliott's Pleasanton Meadows model complex on Cambridge Court were used to market Vintage Hills. Homes from this series were mainly built along Crellin Road and Vintner Way.
To see the model homes, visit Pleasanton Meadows history: Pleasanton homes by H. C. Elliott's (1970)
The second original model home complex (1972)
Vintage Hills finally got its own model complex that opened in early 1972 on Gamay Court. Reflecting the growing demand for new floor plans, some popular earlier models remained, while new ones were introduced.
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| Annotated aerial map of the Vintage Hills model home complex on Gamay Court. Base imagery from Google Maps. |
The original model homes
1. The Coronado - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,050 sq. ft.
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| Original Coronado model today via Google Street View. |
2. The Californian - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,549 sq. ft.
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| Original Californian model today via Google Street View. |
3. The Montebello - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,003 sq. ft.
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| Original Montebello model today via Google Street View. |
4. The San Simeon - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,830 sq. ft.
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| Original San Simeon model today via Google Street View. |
5. The Carmel - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,323 sq. ft.
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6. The Huntington - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,699 sq. ft. Added in 1973.
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| Original Huntington model today via Google Street View. |
The third original model home complex (1975)
In its final phase, Vintage Hills featured new floorplans and refined designs on Tawny Drive.
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| Map of the Vintage Hills model complex on Tawny Drive in Pleasanton, where homes were showcased during the neighborhood's development in 1975. |
The original model homes
1. The Californian (Plan 74) - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,549 sq. ft.
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| Original Californian model today via Google Street View. |
2. The Newporter (Plan 76) - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,993 sq. ft.
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| Original Newporter model today via Google Street View. |
3. The San Simeon (Plan 72) - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,471 sq. ft.
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| Original San Simeon model today via Google Street View. |
4. The Arcadian (Plan 75) - 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2,442 sq. ft.
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| Original Arcadian model today via Google Street View. |
The Monterey (Plan 73) - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,601 sq. ft. Not shown in the model complex.
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| A Monterey home via Google Street View. No model was displayed. |
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