Tract Guide: Highland Oaks (Pleasanton homes, 1965)
Tucked against the rolling, oak-studded hills of what is now the Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, Highland Oaks emerged in the mid-1960s as one of west Pleasanton's first large-scale residential developments. Built in four phases between 1965 and 1969, the subdivision brought 363 homes to the edge of what was then still a small, agrarian town on the brink of suburban transformation.
The homes were constructed by Schulte-Blackwell, a builder known for creating family-oriented neighborhoods with modern comforts. Though sales quietly began in October 1965, the official grand opening wasn't until January 1966—by which time more than 100 homes had already been sold, a testament to the area’s appeal and the shifting demand for suburban living among Bay Area families.
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| Highland Oaks grand opening advertisement, January 1966: This vintage ad heralded the grand opening of Highland Oaks, its stylized logo depicting rolling hills crowned by a single house. Featured are the first five model homes and recreation center in a self-contained neighborhood tucked against Pleasanton’s west hills. |
Where is Highland Oaks in Pleasanton?
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| Annotated aerial map of the Highland Oaks tract in Pleasanton, California. Base imagery from Apple Maps. |
A new lifestyle on Foothill Road
Situated off Foothill Road, before the construction of the West Las Positas Boulevard overpass, Highland Oaks is a neighborhood defined by both its geographic beauty and a sense of promise. Commuters reached it via the Foothill exit off the new Interstate 580, or the Bernal exit from 680, which wouldn’t open until 1967—a major event that would shorten commutes to Fremont and San Jose, helping solidify Pleasanton's role as a bedroom community for the South Bay tech industry.
In those early years, before Pleasanton’s own west side schools were built, children from Highland Oaks were bused to Dublin schools. The subdivision would later include Lydiksen Elementary School and Muirwood Community Park, shaping a self-contained community where education and recreation were central values.
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| "Fields give way to houses and schools" – Highland Oaks aerial, October 1967: This 1967 aerial photo captures Highland Oaks in mid-construction, looking east toward Pleasanton. Rows of newly built homes trace the contours of the hills, while open agricultural land still dominates the horizon. The image marks a pivotal moment in Pleasanton’s transformation from rural valley farmland to a modern suburban community, with Highland Oaks as one of its earliest and most visible developments on the west side. |
Selling the tract
With prices starting at $20,950 and down payments as low as $650, buyers were promised more than just square footage—they were sold on a lifestyle. Marketing materials invited families to “move up to the good life” at Highland Oaks, where homes came complete with:
Front lawns and rear yard fencing
Tappan kitchen ranges and dishwashers
Handcrafted oak staircases (in 2-story models)
Shake roofs
Pre-wired master antenna systems that offered reception from up to 11 television stations
These weren’t just homes—they were gateways to postwar prosperity and the suburban ideal that was rapidly transforming the Tri-Valley region.
At the heart of Highland Oaks is its defining feature: a private recreation center and swim club reserved exclusively for residents, and maintained by the homeowners association. Unlike the typical neighborhood pool-and-cabana model, the Highland Oaks Swim Club spans two acres and features:
A 13,000 sq. ft. deck area
A large swimming pool for family recreation
A multi-purpose clubhouse with kitchen and 26’ x 10’ meeting room
Most uniquely, two Viking sauna baths, a rare amenity in Pleasanton’s housing developments at the time
This investment in recreation highlighted the developers’ commitment to fostering not just houses, but a strong sense of community and wellness, reflective of broader suburban planning trends of the 1960s.
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| From an Oakland Tribune ad from July 1966—with the opening of the MacArthur Freeway (I-580) commute times to San Francisco reduced by 11 minutes, and neighborhoods in the Tri-Valley became more attractive. |
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| "Move up to the good life" – Highland Oaks advertisement, May 1967: This playful 1967 ad promoted the leisure lifestyle of Highland Oaks with the tagline “Move up to the good life.” Set at the community pool, it featured two women in bathing suits modeling by the water while a man, perched on the diving board, looks on—an image steeped in the era’s aspirational suburban ideal. Beyond selling homes, the ad sold a vision of status, sunshine, and social life in one of Pleasanton’s most modern developments. |
Pricing history of Highland Oaks homes
- 1965: $20,950 - $24,950
- 1966: $21,500 - $26,950
- 1967: $22,950 - $28,500
- 1968: $23,950 - $29,500
- 1969: $26,950 +
The homes of Highland Oaks
When Highland Oaks opened, buyers toured a carefully staged collection of Schulte-Blackwell model homes showcasing the neighborhood’s mix of architecture, indoor-outdoor living, and family-oriented floor plans. Though individual elevations varied, these original models helped define much of the neighborhood’s visual identity.
The four original models opened in January 1966 on Capewood Place. A fifth model arrived later that year, then a sixth in 1967.
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| Annotated aerial map of the Highland Oaks model home complex on Capewood Place. Base imagery from Apple Maps. |
Model homes of Highland Oaks
1. The Southwood (Plan H-142X) - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms; 1,593 sq. ft. The 3-bedroom version (1,355 sq. ft.) is The Oakwood (Plan H-132X).
2. The Redwood (Plan H-142Y) - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms; 1,680 sq. ft. Introduced 1967; featured the "Four Seasons" kitchen. The 3-bedroom version (1,555 sq. ft.) is The Sequoia (Plan H-132Y).
3. The Highland (Plan H-343) - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms; 1,868 sq. ft. The 3-bedroom version (1,707 sq. ft.) is The Northwood (Plan H-333).
4. The Westwood (Plan H-132) - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,255 sq. ft. The 4-bedroom version is The Hillview (Plan H-142).
5. The Hillcrest (Plan H-253) - 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms; 1,810 sq. ft. The 6-bedroom version (2.098 sq. ft.) is The Cliffwood (Plan H-263).
6. The Castlemont (Plan H-342) - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms; 1,911 sq. ft. Introduced in Unit 2, April 1966.
Model not shown in the complex
The Havenwood (Plan H-242) - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms; 1,682 sq. ft. With 2 bedrooms on the first level, and 2 on the second, perhaps it had the most character. However, it was only built in Unit 1, then discontinued.
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| A Southwood home today (the original model home is camera shy) via Google Street View. |
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| Original Redwood model today via Google Street View. |
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| Original Highland model today via Google Street View. |
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| Original Westwood model today via Google Street View. |
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| Original Hillcrest model today via Google Street View. |
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| Original Castlemont model today via Google Street View. |
Legacy and buildout
By late 1968, the model complex was retired, and final sales were handled out of Schulte-Blackwell’s nearby Foothill Farms development. The final homes sold by mid-1969, completing a neighborhood that would become a quiet cornerstone of Pleasanton’s west side.
Today, Highland Oaks stands as a living example of mid-century suburban planning, representing the optimism and aspirations of a generation seeking space, stability, and community just beyond the reach of the rapidly urbanizing Bay Area.
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