Del Prado history: Pleasanton’s 1973–1974 Mackay homes

Photo of a typical 1973–1974 Mackay-built home in the Del Prado neighborhood of Pleasanton, featuring a contemporary two-story design with clean lines, a low-pitched roof, vertical wood siding, and a two-car garage.

Mackay Homes returns to Del Prado

By 1973, inflation was rising, gas was rationed, but Mackay still believed in giving buyers their casita de ensueño. After completing their 1969 line of homes, they opened a new set of homes closer to the swim club. These homes started at $48,950 and felt every bit as deluxe as their price tag suggested.

Although the neighborhood opened in late 1973, it wasn't until early 1974 that five model homes were opened on Hansen Drive at Calle Reynoso.

From a January 1974 Oakland Tribune ad: grand opening of the new Del Prado model homes in Pleasanton, showcasing compact, efficient, and boxier architectural designs typical of the era.
From a January 1974 Oakland Tribune ad—by 1974, even houses got the memo: compact, efficient, and a little boxier. Like a post-gas-crisis car, but with a wetbar and harvest gold appliances.

Where these homes were built

In 1974, a second wave of dream homes opened just down the way from the 1969 series. The floorplans were bigger, the finishes more refined, and the prices? Well, they reflected the times—but oh, what you got for it: beam ceilings, wall-to-wall shag, and sliding doors that turned patios into fiesta-ready extensions of your living room. And this time, the neighborhood came with a cabana and community pool.

Map of the Calle Reynoso section of Del Prado, highlighting the area where Mackay Homes built their second line of homes.
The Calle Reynoso section of Del Prado—where Mackay continued building their 1973 line of homes. Other homes in the neighborhood came from their 1969 series.

Not just a home—a statement

By 1974, Mackay’s Del Prado homes had entered truly premium territory. With base prices beginning at $48,950, they stood well above the national median home price of about $35,900. That gap tells us something: buyers weren’t just paying for shelter—they were buying status, style, and innovation. The homes boasted features rarely seen in mass‑market subdivisions: self‑cleaning ovens, master retreats, optional fireplaces, furniture‑style wood cabinets, and fully insulated walls. In its ads, Mackay didn’t merely sell a house; it sold an elevated lifestyle, promising comfort, elegance, and long‑term value.

Vintage 1974 advertisement for Mackay Homes in the Del Prado neighborhood of Pleasanton, featuring a woman seated on a bed with an ornate bedspread. The ad promotes five new floorplans, sixteen exterior options, modern features like energy-efficient insulation and furniture-style kitchen cabinets, and access to a private swim club.
February 1974 ad for Mackay Homes’ new line in Del Prado, Pleasanton, promoting “The Distinctive Homes of Del Prado” with upscale features like energy-saving insulation, natural wood cabinets, food disposers, and exclusive membership in the Cabana Swim Club. The image shows a woman enjoying the comfort of her bedroom—an aspirational vision of suburban luxury in the mid-1970s.

The homes of Del Prado

The model homes complex was on Hansen Drive and opened in early 1974.

Small aerial view of the site of the second-phase Mackay Del Prado model homes on Hansen Drive, showing early development layout and surrounding streets.
Map of the Mackay Homes Del Prado model homes on Hansen Drive.

Pricing history

  • 1973: $48,950 +
  • 1974: $48,950 +

Model homes

1. The Valencia (Plan 9524) - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,892 sq. ft.

2. The Barcelona (Plan 9724) - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,897 sq. ft.

3. The Seville (Plan 9314) - 4 bedrooms or 3 + retreat, 2 bathrooms, 1,785–1,803 sq. ft.

4. The Granada (Plan 9214) - 4 bedrooms or 3 + retreat, 2 bathrooms, 1,836 sq. ft.

5. The Monterey (Plan 9625) - 5 bedrooms or 4 + retreat, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,266 sq. ft.

Del Prado today

Here’s what the original 1973 series models at Del Prado look like in 2024.

The Valencia (Plan 9524) today

Current photo of the original Valencia model in Del Prado, showing a well-maintained single-story home with classic mid-century styling and a neatly landscaped front yard.
The original Valencia model today.

The Barcelona (Plan 9724) today

Current photo of the original Barcelona model, featuring a distinctive two-story layout with Contemporary-inspired details and a well-kept front yard.
The original Barcelona model today.

The Seville (Plan 9314) today

Current photo of the original Seville model, a stylish single-story home with clean lines, large front windows, and mature landscaping.
The original Seville model today.

The Granada (Plan 9214) today

Current photo of the original Granada model, featuring a classic single-story design with a low-pitched roof, wide front windows, and established landscaping.
The original Granada model today.

The Monterey (Plan 9625) today

Current photo of the original two-story Monterey model featuring a turned garage, prominent second-story, and traditional architectural details with mature landscaping.
The original Monterey model today.

The buildout & beyond

By the end of 1974, Mackay had wrapped up their work in Del Prado. A few years later, the builder was absorbed into the short-lived Kaiser-Aetna partnership, which spun off Ponderosa Homes. But by then, the homes had already spoken for themselves.

Even today, Del Prado remains one of Pleasanton’s most desirable neighborhoods, and it’s easy to see why. Its homes were built with heart, pride, and the kind of detailing that could only come from a time when a new home meant a fresh start.

Today in Del Prado

Drive through Del Prado now and you’ll still catch glimpses of su tiempo dorado: a lemon tree out front, wrought iron railings, or a retro lantern by the door. Kids still bike to the pool. Neighbors still wave. And on warm evenings, you might just smell something grilling and hear a bit of music from a backyard deck.

This wasn’t just a neighborhood. It was—and still is—una comunidad con alma.

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