Published October 10, 2025
In late 1975, a new chapter began in San Ramon’s suburban evolution. Shapell Industries, newly arrived from Southern California, initiated a bold and modern housing tract called Rancho Ramon—their first foray into northern California homebuilding. Over the course of three years, they would build approximately 262 homes that marked a stylistic and cultural shift from the familiar ranch houses of earlier decades to something larger, more vertical, and more aspirational.
The timing was significant: this was the first large-scale housing project in San Ramon in four years, signaling renewed growth and confidence in the area. It also reflected a deeper desire—shared by homebuyers and developers alike—for homes that embodied space, modernity, and status.
The mid-1970s were a moment of architectural experimentation and social optimism, despite larger economic uncertainties. Energy concerns were growing—California was reeling from the energy crisis of the early decade—and Shapell responded with insulation, weatherstripping, and security features like deadbolts. These choices reflect both a pragmatic response to national anxieties and a desire for permanence and security in one’s home.
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| Newspaper advertisement from the Concord Transcript, February 1976, inviting the public to the grand opening of Rancho Ramon. The ad features an illustration of a stately two-story home with a three-car garage—symbolic of the larger, more contemporary homes shaping San Ramon's suburban growth. |
Selling the dream
Shapell wasn’t just about housing—it was about creating a neighborhood identity. The development bordered Athan Downs Park, offering residents instant access to open space and recreational areas, while the Alamo Hills formed a picturesque backdrop. These natural elements reinforced the ideal of the suburban “retreat”—close to nature, yet firmly within the orbit of a growing Bay Area metropolis.
Even before the grand opening, 35 homes had been pre-sold—a testament to the community's appetite for modern living.
Set on generous 10,000 sq. ft. lots, the homes of Rancho Ramon broke from the low-slung ranch styles that had dominated postwar California suburbs. Instead, they featured soaring cathedral ceilings, expansive windows, and two-story layouts with square footages approaching 3,000. These were homes designed to impress, as much about image as function. Every plan included a three-car garage, a novelty and a nod to the growing affluence and auto-dependence of the suburban family.
Buyers were also drawn to thoughtful touches: Spanish tile or cedar shake roofs, ceramic-tiled foyers, and all-electric kitchens—futuristic in their time. Primary suites often included walk-in closets, and several floor plans incorporated custom fireplace designs, enhancing the sense of luxury.
The Fairways Series: golf course prestige
In late 1976, Shapell unveiled the Fairways Series, a premium group of homes built around the San Ramon Golf Club. These homes, many backing directly onto the fairways, offered views and exclusivity. At a time when golf course living was regaining popularity—mirroring the development of Crow Canyon Country Club in neighboring Danville—these homes carried lot premiums and further expanded Rancho Ramon’s appeal.
Here, one can trace the emergence of a lifestyle-oriented suburb, where homes were not merely shelters but statements—reflecting a desire for leisure, beauty, and refinement in everyday life.
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| Newspaper advertisement from the Contra Costa Times, June 1977, promoting the Fairway Series at Rancho Ramon. Positioned along the San Ramon Golf Club, these homes were marketed with prestige and privacy in mind. The ad's tagline reads: “For a fortunate few.” |
Legacy of Rancho Ramon
Rancho Ramon was more than tract housing—it was a signpost of San Ramon's transformation. From a patchwork of ranches and orchards, the city was growing into a master-planned community with an eye on the future. Shapell’s success here would lead directly to their next major development: Inverness Park, just to the north.
Today, the homes still stand, lived in and cherished. Some have been remodeled, expanded, while others carefully preserved. But the bones of those 1976 dreams remain—and with them, a story about what we wanted, who we were, and how San Ramon became home.
The original Rancho Ramon models and sales materials
When Shapell introduced Rancho Ramon in 1975, prospective buyers encountered the community through its model homes. The models showcased the different designs, floor plans, and lifestyles the builder was offering to buyers in San Ramon.
The original model homes provide a way to revisit that introduction. The guide below shows where Shapell's models were located, preserves the original sales material where available, and explores the designs the builder offered to prospective buyers when the community was new.
Original model home complex
Rancho Ramon's six original model homes were arranged on Oakham Court around a temporary sales complex that welcomed prospective buyers during the neighborhood's grand opening on February 22, 1975.
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| Annotated aerial view of the original Rancho Ramon model homes on Oakham Court. Base imagery from Apple Maps. |
Original advertised prices
- 1975: From $66,700
- Feb 1976 advertisement: $66,700 to mid-$80,000s
- Nov 1976 (Fairway Series): From $72,800
- Jun. 1977 advertisement (Fairway Series): From $92,950
- 1978: (Fairway Series): From $94,950
Former model homes
1. The Plan 1 - This model offered approximately 1,842 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 1 model today via Google Street View. |
2. The Plan 2 - This model offered approximately 2,450 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 2 model today via Google Street View. |
3. The Plan 3 - This model offered approximately 2,400 square feet with up to 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 3 model today via Google Street View. |
4. The Plan 4 - This model offered approximately 2,720 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 4 model today via Google Street View. |
5. The Plan 5 - This model offered approximately 2,112 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| A Plan 5 home today (the original model is camera shy) via Google Street View. |
6. The Plan 6 - This model offered approximately 3,000 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 6 model today via Google Street View. |
Collection
San Ramon — the neighborhoods that built a suburban city
This collection explores the housing tracts, builders, and neighborhoods that shaped San Ramon during its principal years of suburban growth that gradually became the modern city.
Continue exploring
- Casa Ramon: W. W. Dean's 1976 housing tract in San Ramon
- Sunrise Place: Crocker Homes’ 1980 housing tract in San Ramon
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