When Morrison Homes broke ground on its second line of homes 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 Morrison Homes' Walnut Grove Series at Pleasanton Valley asks, “Are you ready?”—a call to growing families looking for space, storage, and a fresh start in suburban Pleasanton. |
Selling the dream
A 1967 Oakland Tribune ad by Morrison Homes 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.
The end of the series
The Walnut Grove Series 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 the Walnut Grove Series 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 advertised 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 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 at Pleasanton Valley 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 at Pleasanton Valley. |
The Gatewood House
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| February 1968 Oakland Tribune advertisement for the Gatewood House showing the 4-bedroom home. |
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 Walnut Grove Series design. |
Original model home designs
1. The Country House - This model offered approximately 1,752 to 1,912 square feet with up to 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Country House model today via Google Street View. |
2. The Gatewood House - This model offered approximately 2,103 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Gatewood House model today via Google Street View. |
3. The Heritage House - This model offered approximately 2,560 square feet with up to 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
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| Original Heritage House model today via Google Street View. |
4. The Terrace House - This model offered approximately 1,540 to 1,732 square feet with up to 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Terrace House model today via Google Street View. |
5. The Holiday House - This model offered approximately 2,179 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Holiday House model today via Google Street View. |
6. The Monterey House - This model offered approximately 2,085 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.
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| Original Monterey House model today via Google Street View. |
7. The Arbor House - This model offered approximately 1,854 square feet with up to 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Added in 1967.
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| Original Arbor House model today via Google Street View. |
8. The Casual American House - This model offered approximately 1,730 square feet with up to 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. 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 - This model offered approximately 2,227 square feet with up to 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. 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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