When Morrison Homes broke ground on its second phase in Pleasanton Valley — the Walnut Grove series — it did so with a nod to the land’s past. Built between 1966 and 1968, the homes were sited on generous lots — many measuring over 11,000 square feet — and often came with a quiet legacy: up to six mature walnut trees left from the original orchard. These weren’t just new homes; they were new roots planted in old soil.
Pleasanton in the mid-to-late 1960s was undergoing a slow but steady transformation. While nearby Dublin was developing its first shopping centers and San Ramon remained mostly pasture, Pleasanton was emerging as a town with modern schools, growing families, and a suburban identity still grounded in rural character. It was a time when Sunset Magazine was inspiring backyards, vinyl floors were replacing linoleum, and kids rode bikes without helmets to brand-new schools like Walnut Grove Elementary — just blocks from the new model homes.
In the background, America was changing fast: the first Super Bowl aired in 1967, color TV was becoming mainstream, and California’s housing boom was heating up. In Pleasanton Valley, that future arrived through the welcoming doors of a Morrison model home.
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| March 1967 newspaper ad for Pleasanton Valley’s Walnut Grove series asks, “Are you ready?”—a call to growing families looking for space, storage, and a fresh start in suburban Pleasanton. |
Selling the series
A 1967 Oakland Tribune ad posed a question to busy Bay Area families: “Are you ready?” If your weekly errands required a clipboard and a grocery list long enough to wrap around the block, these homes were designed for you.
The ad campaigns promoted “family-size floor plans” and “intelligent storage” — pitched squarely at a new generation of suburban homeowners, many moving from the post-war bungalows of Oakland or San Leandro into larger homes with more bedrooms, more closets, and — in many cases — their very first two-car garage.
Legacy of the Walnut Grove series
Walnut Grove was never just a stopgap between phases. It was a thoughtful continuation of Pleasanton Valley’s identity — blending past and present. Here, Morrison Homes made room for what mattered: families, yards, shade trees, and quiet streets.
The homes of Walnut Grove bridged two worlds: the rural past of Pleasanton, and the modern suburban future that would unfold over the next decade.
Today, these homes offer more than nostalgia — they’re a record of architectural and community planning values from a pivotal time in local history. They reflect the optimism of the era, the scale of family life, and the belief that neighborhoods could still feel like home before they felt like investment.
Exploring the original Walnut Grove series today
Although the sales office is long gone and the advertisements have faded, the original Walnut Grove series model homes remain part of the neighborhood. These homes gave prospective buyers their first glimpse of Morrison's vision for suburban living in 1966
Today, they provide a tangible connection to Pleasanton Valley's earliest days. The guide below documents the original model home complex, the homes themselves, and how they appear today.
Original prices
- 1966: $23,900 - $31,950
- 1967: $25,250 - $33,350
- 1968: $28,000 - $35,200
Original model home complex
The Walnut Grove series' nine original model homes were arranged on Meadowwood Court around a temporary sales complex that welcomed prospective buyers during the neighborhood's grand opening in 1966. While the sales office disappeared long ago, the model homes remain, allowing visitors to trace the neighborhood's beginnings more than fifty years later.
Although the complex started closed out in late 1968, the Heritage House and the Holiday House, were returned to production in Spring 1970.
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| Annotated aerial map of the Walnut Grove series model home complex on Meadowwood Court. Base imagery from Google Maps. |
Original sales materials
The following newspaper advertisements document the original Walnut Grove homes as they were presented to prospective buyers. Together they preserve the exterior renderings, floor plans, pricing, and marketing language used during the neighborhood's first years.
The Country House
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| 1968 newspaper ad for the Country House emphasizes community connection and thoughtful construction—a hallmark of the Walnut Grove series. |
The Gatewood House
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| June 5, 1966 newspaper ad—the Gatewood House ad promised “intelligent planning” and residential distinction for Pleasanton Valley buyers. |
The Heritage House
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| 1966 newspaper ad for the Heritage House invites buyers to a serene Pleasanton setting—and one of the largest models available at the time. |
The Terrace House
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| The 1966 newspaper ad for the Terrace House playfully quotes Webster’s to underscore the home's lasting value. |
The Holiday House
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| “You have to be decisive,” warned this 1966 Holiday House newspaper ad—one of Pleasanton Valley’s more sought-after plans. |
The Monterey House
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| This 1968 newspaper ad for the Monterey House reminded buyers that “community is to house as leather is to shoes.” |
The Arbor House
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| Introduced in 1967, the Arbor House was touted as “the newest concept of 1967”—a model ahead of its time. |
The Casual American House
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| Designed by George A. Swallow, the 1968 Casual American House offered a refined but livable setting for mid-century families. |
The Portico House
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| The 1968 Portico House ad showcased Morrison’s tri-level triumph—“space-craftsmanship” in Pleasanton Valley’s final Walnut Grove design. |
The original model homes
1. The Country House - 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,752 or 1,912 sq. ft.
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| Original Country House model today via Google Street View. |
2. The Gatewood House - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,103 sq. ft.
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| Original Gatewood House model today via Google Street View. |
3. The Heritage House - 6 bedrooms or 5 with a retreat, 3 bathrooms, 2,560 sq. ft.
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| Original Heritage House model today via Google Street View. |
4. The Terrace House - 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,540 or 1,732 sq. ft.
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| Original Terrace House model today via Google Street View. |
5. The Holiday House - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,179 sq. ft.
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| Original Holiday House model today via Google Street View. |
6. The Monterey House - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,085 sq. ft.
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| Original Monterey House model today via Google Street View. |
7. The Arbor House - 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,854 sq. ft. Added in 1967.
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| Original Arbor House model today via Google Street View. |
8. The Casual American House - 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,730 sq. ft. Designed by George A. Swallow, AIA, and added in 1968.
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| Original Casual American House model today via Google Street View. |
9. The Portico House - 4 bedrooms or 3 with a retreat, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,227 sq. ft. A tri-level home designed by George A. Swallow, AIA, added in 1968.
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| Original Portico House model today via Google Street View. |
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