Michael's Blog

Once again I transcribed the open house guide from the San Leandro Times and rearranged it for your convenience. 

If you miss seeing any of these, I would be more than happy to represent you as the buyer.  Call me and I can arrange for a viewing.

I have set aside this weekend to showing homes to people just like you.  In fact, it could be you!  Give me a call at 510 334-7800 to schedule. 

San Leandro

1441 Regent Drive, San Leandro

Offered at $639,900.00 through Rinetti & Co. Realtors

3 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 2-4

 

1481 Gilmore Street, San Leandro

Offered at $450,000.00 through Coldwell Banker

4 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 1-4

 

3444 Chaplet, San Leandro

Offered at $499,000.00 through United Brokers Real Estate

3 bedrooms / 2.5 baths

Sat 1-4    Sun 1-4

 

16723 Hannah Drive, San Leandro

Offered at $374,900 through Prudential California Realty

3 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 1-4

 

San Lorenzo

Nothing this week :(

 

Hayward

27087 Columbia Court, Hayward

Offered at $599,000.00 through Prudential California Realty

4 bedrooms / 2.5 baths

Sun 1-4

 

Castro Valley

4291 Omega Avenue, Castro Valley

Offered at $565,000.00 through Hometown GMAC Real Estate

3 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 1-4

 

18303 Vineyard Road, Castro Valley

Offered at $524,900 through Prudential California Realty

3 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 1-4

 

17565 Oakshire Place, Castro Valley

Offered at $1,099,000 through Prudential California Realty

4 bedrooms / 3 baths

Sun 1-4

 

Oakland

Nothing this week :(

 

Piedmont

Nothing this week :(

 

Fremont

Nothing this week :(

 

Alameda

3032 Flora Vista, Alameda

Offered at $451,000 through Re/Max in Motion

4 bedrooms / 2.5 baths

Sun 1-4

 

San Ramon

Nothing this week :(

 

• city or town where property is located: oakland, ca.
• neighborhood where property is located: san antionio park
• price the property is currently listed at: $230,000
• homes in the same neighborhood are selling for: $160,000 - $565,000    286,000 median 
• difference in value between this property and the comps: $56,000 to median 
• Probate / short sale / R.E.O. / 1031 exchange / traditional: this home is a short sale

On visual inspection of this property I have noticed that the following repairs would make a difference.  Here is a list of suggested projects along with the estimated costs involved. Please consider the cost price estimates to be for supplies only.  These postings are for contractor investors or serious do-it-yourself homeowners.

Agents please do not forget to supply estimated costs

1. project: new kitchen $6,000
2. project: exterior painting $2,000
3. project: interior painting $1,000
4. project: replacement windows $1,500
5. project: front landscaping $1,000
6. project: refinish hardwood flooring $2,000
7. project: rear landscaping  $3,000
8. project: section 1 pest report $26,000
9. project:
10. project:             approx TOTAL $42,500.00

Some photos courtesy of the listing agent

For the property address and further information, please contact me at: Michael Greenslade 510 334-7800

I would like to help you take advantage of this opportunity / investment

I thought that these Envirosax were a great idea.  I never liked the idea of showing up at the Safeway's check out line with bags exactly like the ones they are selling right before entering the check out.

This way you can have a bag that is unique enough where the cashier won't try to ring it up again.   I like the kitchen retro set.

By-the-way this is my first "reblogging" but I thought that it was highly worthy of sharing it with you.

Mike

My last posting on Frontier Village, San Jose's beloved little old west theme park, we concluded our tour of the park.

You may be asking yourself what ever became of this little park and why haven't I heard about it before.  Well, Frontier Village closed in 1980 and was torn down shortly afterward.

Why did Frontier Village close?  Many factors went into the closure of Frontier Village.

First off, increased competition from a new large theme park in Santa Clara "Marriott's Great America".  Great America being at least four times the size of Frontier Village, could offer something that Frontier Village could not, size.

Great America was much closer and much more modern.  Great America made it's debut in 1976 and was backed by a huge hotel conglomerate with deep pockets. 

The Marriott corporation was going to build three identical Great America parks in different regions of the country.  Santa Clara got the West Coast Great America, Gurnee Illinois got the Midwest Great America.  The Washington D.C. area was to get the third Great America park.

Frontier Village by this time had been sold to Rio Grande Industries, a railroad company.  Rio Grande Industries also owned local roller coaster manufacturer Arrow Development Corporation.  It looked like Frontier Village could soon be the debut location for all sorts of ride & roller coaster innovations.

Frontier Village had room to expand into the Badlands as well as some additional land adjacent to the park proper.

Behind Frontier Village was the Hayes mansion, which could be seen from the stagecoach ride.  It always looked like an old haunted house.  It was just a historic property in a state of disrepair.   Frontier Village was actually built on the gardens of the Hayes estate, known as Edenvale.  The large Eucalyptus trees that graced frontier village were part of that much older estate gardens.  

http://www.dolce-hayes-mansion-hotel.com/

San Jose was also experiencing explosive growth due to the emergence of Silicon Valley.  Whereas frontier village was all alone in the orchards in the southern part of town.  By 1980 frontier village was in the middle of a neighborhood of single family homes.

Frontier Village wanted to expand however, between Great America, the historic Hayes property and the approaching neighborhoods, the city declined frontier village's application to expand.

It was the end of the trail for Frontier Village!   The park was auctioned off piece by piece until there was nothing left.

In my next posting we will examine the legacy of Frontier Village.

 

Part 1 http://activerain.com/blogsview/717285/Frontier-Village-Part-1

Part 2 http://activerain.com/blogsview/718430/Frontier-Village-Part-2

Part 3 http://activerain.com/blogsview/718484/Frontier-Village-Part-3

Part 4 http://activerain.com/blogsview/721314/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 5 http://activerain.com/blogsview/721431/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 6 http://activerain.com/blogsview/723682/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 7 http://activerain.com/blogsview/732184/Frontier-Village-Part-7  

Part 8

• city or town where property is located: san leandro, ca
• neighborhood where property is located: washington manor
• price the property is currently listed at: $ 269,900
• homes in the same neighborhood are selling for: $ 260,000 - $ 457,000   $ 350,000 median price
• difference in value between this property and the comps: $ 80,100
• Probate / short sale / R.E.O. / 1031 exchange / traditional: this home is a R.E.O.

On visual inspection of this property I have noticed that the following repairs would make a difference.  Here is a list of suggested projects along with the estimated costs involved. Please consider the cost price estimates to be for supplies only.  These postings are for contractor investors or serious do-it-yourself homeowners.

Agents please do not forget to supply estimated costs

1. project: 8 replacement windows budget $200 each     $1,600
2. project: new bathroom surfaces and fixtures   $3,500
3. project: exterior paint and trim paint  $1,000
4. project: new sheetrock, tape for interior  $4,000
5. project: new lighting fixtures budget $150 each   $1,500
6. project: interior paint $700
7. project: front landscaping $3,000
8. Project: rear landscaping $3,000
9. Project: master bath and enlarging master bedroom addition $50,000
10. Project: kitchen remodel $8,000    approx Total $76,300

For the property address and further information, please contact me at: Michael Greenslade 510 334-7800

I would like to help you take advantage of this opportunity / investment

Once again I transcribed the open house guide from the San Leandro Times and rearranged it for your convenience. 

If you miss seeing any of these, I would be more than happy to represent you as the buyer.  Call me and I can arrange for a viewing.

 

San Leandro

976 Helen Avenue , San Leandro

Offered at $599,000.00 through Prudential California Realty.

4 bedrooms / 3 baths

Sat 12-4   Sun 12-4 (cancelled)

 

474 Juana Avenue, San Leandro

Offered at $349,950.00 through Coldwell Banker Bartels

2 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 11-3

 

1445 Avon Avenue, San Leandro

Offered at $449,000.00 through Gallagher & Lindsey Inc.

3 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 2-4:30

 

420 Elsie Avenue, San Leandro

Offered at $439,000.00 through Prudential California  Realty

3 bedrooms / 1 bath

Sun 1-4

 

1385 Sandelin Court, San Leandro

Offered at $509,000.00 through Rinetti & Co. Realtors

3 bedrooms / 1.5 baths

Sun 1-4

 

16723 Hannah Drive, San Leandro

Offered at $374,900 through Prudential California Realty

3 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 1-4

 

14416 Outrigger Drive, San Leandro

Offered at $449,000.00 through United Brokers Real Estate

3 bedrooms / 2.5 baths

Sat 1-4

 

San Lorenzo

1372 Jacqueline Place, San Lorenzo

Offered at $269,000 through Prudential California Realty

2 bedrooms / 1.5 baths

Sun 1-4

 

 

Hayward

27087 Columbia Court, Hayward

Offered at $599,000.00 through Prudential California Realty

4 bedrooms / 2.5 baths

Sun 1-4

 

Castro Valley

2368 Farley Street, Castro Valley

Offered at $349,950.00 through Prudential California Realty

2 bedrooms / 1 bath

Sun 1:30-4

 

18340 Joseph Drive, Castro Valley

Offered at $549,000 through Re/Max in Motion

3 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 1-4

 

18365 Joseph Drive, Castro Valley

Offered at $539,000 through Re/Max in Motion

3 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 1-4

 

 

18303 Vineyard Road, Castro Valley

Offered at $524,900 through Prudential California Realty

3 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 1-4

 

4557 Lawrence Drive, Castro Valley

Offered at $569,000 through Re/Max in Motion

3 bedrooms / 2.5 baths

Sun 1-4

 

32075 Palomares Road, Castro Valley

Offered at $794,850 through Prudential California Realty

2 bedrooms / 1 bath

Sun 1-4

 

19013 Helton Street, Castro Valley

Offered at $738,000 through Coldwell Banker

4 bedrooms / 2.5 baths

Sun 1-4

 

17565 Oakshire Place, Castro Valley

Offered at $1,099,000 through Prudential California Realty

4 bedrooms / 3 baths

Sun 1-4

 

Oakland

 Nothing this week :(

 

Piedmont

Nothing this week :(

 

Fremont

Nothing this week :(

 

Alameda

Nothing this week :(

 

San Ramon

Nothing this week :(

 

• city or town where property is located: San Leandro, Ca.
• neighborhood where property is located: Assumption Parish
• price the property is currently listed at: $ 279,900
• homes in the same neighborhood are selling for: $ 310,000 - 440,000 / $343,525 median
• difference in value between this property and the comps: $ 63,625 to median
• Probate / short sale / R.E.O. / 1031 exchange / traditional: this home is a R.E.O.

 

On visual inspection of this property I have noticed that the following repairs would make a difference.  Here is a list of suggested repairs and upgrades along with the estimated costs involved. Please consider the cost price estimates to be for supplies only.  These postings are for contractor investors or serious do-it-yourself homeowners.

Agents please do not forget to supply estimated costs

1. repair: Brick front porch needs to be rebuilt.  $4,000.00
2. repair: Missing 2 interior bedroom doors. $400.00
3. repair: Light fixtures missing in kitchen, living and dining rooms $600.00
4. repair: Paint exterior trim on house $300.00
5. repair: Kitchen project 50% complete upper cabinets are missing.  The bottom cabinets appear to be Home Depot In-Stock (American Classics Sandalwood Maple) $500.00
6. repair: Single car garage was converted to a bonus room. remove 1 wall and restore garage goor functionality $300.00              Approx TOTAL $6,100.00

 

1. upgrade:
2. upgrade:
3. upgrade:
4. upgrade:
5. upgrade:

 

For the property address and further information, please contact me at: Michael Greenslade 510 334-7800

I would like to help you take advantage of this opportunity / investment

Here is a breakdown of homes available in our local towns. The data reflects today October 7th, 2008.  The data is broken down to the number of homes broken down into pricing catagories and the number of homes in each catagory. 

This number reflects condos, townhouses and detached single family homes.  This does not include the listing for duplexes and multiple family residences.

San Leandro MLS AREA: 3100

• under 199k =  17
• 200k - 299k = 90
• 300k - 399k = 117
• 400k - 499k = 55
• 500k - 599k = 31
• 600k - 699k = 17
• 700k - 799k = 5
• 800k - 899k = 3
• 900k - 999k = 0
• over 1M = 3

Oakland MLS AREA: 2600

• under 199k = 630
• 200k - 299k = 347
• 300k - 399k = 246
• 400k - 499k = 150
• 500k - 599k = 84
• 600k - 699k = 55
• 700k - 799k = 53
• 800k - 899k = 42
• 900k - 999k = 18 
• over 1M = 67

Hayward MLS AREA: 3400

• under 199k =  88
• 200k - 299k = 285
• 300k - 399k = 216
• 400k - 499k = 79
• 500k - 599k = 38
• 600k - 699k = 29
• 700k - 799k = 26
• 800k - 899k = 8
• 900k - 999k = 5
• over 1M = 18

Alameda MLS AREA: 2900

• under 199k = 3 
• 200k - 299k = 6
• 300k - 399k = 15
• 400k - 499k = 18
• 500k - 599k = 22
• 600k - 699k = 18
• 700k - 799k = 20
• 800k - 899k = 13
• 900k - 999k = 11
• over 1M = 0

Berkeley MLS AREA: 2300

• under 199k = 1
• 200k - 299k = 1
• 300k - 399k = 10 
• 400k - 499k = 16
• 500k - 599k = 22
• 600k - 699k = 11
• 700k - 799k = 14
• 800k - 899k = 10
• 900k - 999k = 10
• over 1M = 25

Castro Valley MLS AREA: 3300

• under 199k = 2
• 200k - 299k = 7
• 300k - 399k = 29
• 400k - 499k = 26
• 500k - 599k = 36
• 600k - 699k = 22
• 700k - 799k = 25
• 800k - 899k = 10
• 900k - 999k = 10
• over 1M = 25

• city or town where property is located: San Leandro, Ca.
• neighborhood where property is located: "The Broadmoor" district
• price the property is currently listed at: $ 239,900.00
• homes in the same neighborhood are selling for: $ 275,000.00-$505,000.00  $339,950.00 median
• difference in value between this property and the comps: $ 100,000.00 median
• Probate / short sale / R.E.O. / 1031 exchange / traditional: This home is a R.E.O.

 

On visual inspection of this property I have noticed that the following repairs would make a difference.  Here is a list of suggested repairs and upgrades along with the estimated costs involved. Please consider the cost price estimates to be for supplies only.  These postings are for contractor investors or serious do-it-yourself homeowners.

Agents please do not forget to supply estimated costs

1. repair: 16 replacement windows $200.00 per window budget $3,200.00
2. repair: paint exterior $500.00
3. repair: paint interior $900.00
4. repair: landscape front yard 20x10 $1,500.00
5. repair: open kitchen-dining-living floorplan $5,000.00

 

1. upgrade: 10x10 home depot kitchen (american woodmark) $2,000.00
2. upgrade: new bathroom surfaces & fixtures $3,000.00
3. upgrade: lighting fixtures $100 per room budget $800.00
4. upgrade: kitchen and bath granite slabs $1,000.00
5. upgrade: 800 sqft laminate hardwood floors $2,000.00     Approx TOTAL: $19,900.00

 

For the property address and further information, please contact me at: Michael Greenslade 510 334-7800

I would like to help you take advantage of this opportunity / investment

• city or town where property is located:
• neighborhood where property is located:
• price the property is currently listed at: $
• homes in the same neighborhood are selling for: $
• difference in value between this property and the comps: $
• probate / short sale / R.E.O. / 1031 exchange / traditional:
• days on market

On visual inspection of this property I have noticed that the following repairs would make a difference.  Here is a list of suggested projects along with the estimated costs involved. Please consider the cost price estimates to be for supplies only.  These postings are for contractor investors or serious do-it-yourself homeowners.

Agents please do not forget to supply estimated costs

1. project:
2. project:
3. project:
4. project:
5. project:
6. project:
7. project:
8. project:
9. project:
10. project:

For the property address and further information, please contact me at:

I would like to help you take advantage of this opportunity / investment

I wanted to share with you the mortgage calculator tool that can be found on my Prudential Website (The Webtop).  It's available to you and all who access it 24/7.   

www.prurealty.com/michael.greenslade/mortgageInfo.aspx

Here is a break down of what a 6% fixed 30 year mortgage will cost you.  For the samples below, I just did the price buckets at each 100,000.00 increment up to the jumbo conforming limit.

$ 100,000.00 at 6% over 30 years = $ 599.50 / mo

$ 200,000.00 at 6% over 30 years = $ 1199.10 / mo

$ 300,000.00 at 6% over 30 years = $ 1798.65 / mo

$ 400,000.00 at 6% over 30 years = $ 2398.20 / mo

$ 500,000.00 at 6% over 30 years = $ 2997.75 / mo

$ 600,000.00 at 6% over 30 years = $ 3597.30 / mo

$ 700,000.00 at 6% over 30 years = $ 4196.85 / mo

$ 729,750.00 at 6% over 30 years = $ 4375.22 / mo

Keep in mind the additional expenses such as taxes, insurance and homeowner's association dues.  For a exact look at your financial picture contact Shane Wihlidal at our in office Metrocities Mortgage.  Shane can help you get pre-approved. swihlidal@metrocitiesmtg.com or at (925)-395-3488

 

Not too far from Bayfair Center at the corner of Hesperian Boulevard and Lewelling Boulevard is San Leandro's newest eatery, In-N-Out Burgers.

The Southern California institution has finally come to San Leandro.  Burgers, fries, shakes and Soft drinks are the only things on the menu.   A simple menu keeps the restaurant running at top efficiency and cutting operating costs keeping prices fair for the consumer.

San Leandro's In-N-Out is not the familiar white, red and yellow color scheme.  This In-N-Out has a different look to it.  The entire property where this restaurantpad is located is part of the redevelopment of the old Target store.  Wal-Mart will be taking over that location.  The In-N-Out appears to be giving us a preview of what the Wal-Mart will end up looking like.

No In-N-Out would be complete without the palm trees crossed into an "X" someplace out in the landscaping.  According to wikipedia, it was one of the owners homage to his favorite movie, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World.  In that movie the buried treasure was stashed underneath the giant "W" which was two sets of crossed palms.

Bon Appetite

Okay now that we have explored the Badlands on Stagecoach and Train excursions, now is the time to explore some other transportation methods that could be found in Frontier Village.

Old 99 was a small train ride where the little kids could become the engineers of their own steam engine train.  There were no cars following the engines, just the little cartoon looking steam engines.  They would go around at a very slow speed around a small circuit of track.  If I remember there was a small bell that you could pull the rope and make it go clang, clang, clang as you went around engineering your train around.

Near Old 99 was the Antique Autos ride.  These small cars would travel around on a small circuit concrete roadway.  These were electric powered by bus bar and were fun to drive.  They had steering wheels that did absolutely nothing.  The course it took was very twisty and as the park aged it was lushly landscaped.

The Spirit of Kitty Hawk was one of the later rides added to the park.  It was little airplane themed vehicles.  They had a large rudder type of wing in front of the vehicle and you could grab the handle in the wing and let the wind direct your ride journey.  Each of these airplane themed vehicles was attached to spokes radiating from a central spinning hub by way of chains in front of and behind each vehicle up to the spokes above.   This was one of my favorite rides because it generated quite a cool breeze on a summer day.

The Round-up was a carnival ride where you stand up in half round pods.  A chain across the pod would be the only thing to hold you in.  These pods were placed around the perimeter of a large flat disk.  As the ride began to spin you would be stuck against the wall of your pod.  The disk would then start to go up on an angle and soon you would be doing some gravity defying rotations.  The outside of this ride had large longhorn cattle horns on it and it was totally Frontier Village.

The Antique Autos weren't the automobile ride in the park there was also Duster's Turnpike.   This ride also one of the last rides to be added to the park was located right near the entrance log stockade fort and on the fort side of the creek.  Duster's Turnpike was a higher tech larger gasoline powered car ride.  The vehicles were kept onto the track by way of a metal bar that ran down the center but the steering wheels actually turned the wheels.  This is much like the car rides you see in other parks that survive today.   Duster's Turnpike also had a much larger layout than the Antique Autos ride.  Dusters Turnpike had overpasses and underpasses and just wasn't a flat layout.   I really liked this ride.

Part 1 http://activerain.com/blogsview/717285/Frontier-Village-Part-1

Part 2 http://activerain.com/blogsview/718430/Frontier-Village-Part-2

Part 3 http://activerain.com/blogsview/718484/Frontier-Village-Part-3

Part 4 http://activerain.com/blogsview/721314/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 5 http://activerain.com/blogsview/721431/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 6 http://activerain.com/blogsview/723682/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 7 http://activerain.com/blogsview/732184/Frontier-Village-Part-7

Part 8

In my last blog on the defunct amusement park, we had just taken the Apache Whirlwind and Canoes for a ride.

In this episode of my blog we will explore the wilderness of Frontier Village.  There were many ways of getting out there.  The best was by the train.  You could catch the train at where else, the train station at the front of the park.  The train would travel out of the town area and head toward the real train tracks along Monterey Highway.  Once beyond the main part of the park and clearing the lake it would make the turn back into what was called on the maps as "The Badlands".  It was landscaped enough where you couldn't see much of the park beyond the lake.  It felt like you had actually gone into the wilderness of the frontier.

There was a creaky old tunnel that the train would go through.  In reality it was the garage for the train at nights and off season.   But the story us tourists were told that there was some TNT lost in that tunnel from when they were digging.   We had to go very slow so we didn't blow off the TNT by accident.

After the tunnel, would be the dangerous area where train robbers were known to have been active recently.  Sure enough, I was always unlucky because my train was always robbed somehow.   How's that for odds, I guess that makes my modern adult life somewhat safer since we got "robbed" so many times when we were kids.

Another way to get back in to the badlands was to take the stage coach.  I cannot tell you how much fun the bumpy dusty stage coach ride was for a little kid.   We sometimes got to sit on the seating on the roof of the stage.  Funny how things happened, stage coach bandits would be out in the badlands to rob the stage too.

The Frontier Village Sheriff and his deputies were very busy people.  No wonder there were so many gun fights on Main Street.

One last way to get back to the badlands was to go on the slow burro pack train.  It was fun for a small kid who only traveled by 1965 Ford Country Squire Station Wagon.

I can't believe how much fun this series of blogs has been.  The words just keep jumping off my keyboard as memories come back.  I promise this tour into local history (hence my username here at activerain Historytours) will have a real estate tie in later.

 

Part 1 http://activerain.com/blogsview/717285/Frontier-Village-Part-1

Part 2 http://activerain.com/blogsview/718430/Frontier-Village-Part-2

Part 3 http://activerain.com/blogsview/718484/Frontier-Village-Part-3

Part 4 http://activerain.com/blogsview/721314/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 5 http://activerain.com/blogsview/721431/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 6 http://activerain.com/blogsview/723682/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 7 http://activerain.com/blogsview/732184/Frontier-Village-Part-7

 Here are the Prudential California Reatly Open Houses for October 5th, 2008.  Representing the combined offices of Piedmont (ave), Montclair and Grand Lake

 

See also: http://activerain.com/blogsview/720232/Open-House-Guide-for for additional open houses this weekend!

In my last blog on the defunct amusement park, we had just reached the Sidewinder and the Stampede rides.

Beyond that was the one ride that was the farthest back on the walking paths.  It was the Apache Whirlwind Rollercoaster.  The Apache Whirlwind was added in the last years of Frontier Village's existence.  It wasn't very tall by rollercoaster standards; in fact it rather hugged the landscape.  For what it lacked in height it made up in speed and twisty turns.

It was powered by way of an electric bus bar and was going from the instant it left the station.  It would make about three cycles of the circuit and get faster and faster as it traveled around.

There was a small outdoor amphitheater near the Apache Whirlwind.  The seats were situated around a small cove on the shoreline of the lake.  The actual stage was across a small body of water.  Frontier Village would have some stunt shows there for the park guests to see.

Coming back toward the village proper was a swinging rope bridge across the water.  This bridge would take you on a wobbly journey over to Indian Island.

On the lake there was a canoe ride where the tourists would board these long canoes that would seat about 20 guests.  A park ride employee would be at each end of the canoe to help the tourists navigate the waters of the lake.   I am sure the lake wasn't deep at all and would never pose any hazard to anyone if a canoe ever overturned.

Once back in town near the gold panning area, you'd come across the town's other road.  I think that it was called California Street.  There was this neat photo opportunity set up there were you could go behind a small street scenes and open up windows of the buildings. Some of these windows were openings of the heads of cartoon images of some townsfolk.  These little windows would allow you to insert your face on the sheriff, on a wanted poster or the saloon girl's body.

Well, I am going to leave some more for my next posting.  I wish you all could have enjoyed Frontier Village like I did when I was a youngster.

 

Part 1 http://activerain.com/blogsview/717285/Frontier-Village-Part-1

Part 2 http://activerain.com/blogsview/718430/Frontier-Village-Part-2

Part 3 http://activerain.com/blogsview/718484/Frontier-Village-Part-3

Part 4 http://activerain.com/blogsview/721314/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 5 http://activerain.com/blogsview/721431/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 6 http://activerain.com/blogsview/723682/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 7 http://activerain.com/blogsview/732184/Frontier-Village-Part-7

We have spent the last two blog postings exploring the Town Square and Main Street areas of Frontier Village.

Now at the end of main street opened up a vista of the lake off to your left side.  On your right you still had some exciting things ahead.

I remember in this area there was an area where you could go panning for GOLD.  It was always fun to do because your hand would get wet and on a hot summer day that was always fun to play in the water.

To the right was where the fishing pond was located.  It where you could drop in a fishing line and catch a rainbow trout for you dinner.   I never liked doing that because I as a small kid would only like to catch tuna fish sandwiches or school lunch room fish sticks.

The waterfall that trickled down into the fishing pond was built on the side of the rock covered building that was the Lost Dutchman's Mine.  Now that was a real fun ride, you'd board these ore carts and enter the dark mine interior.  Once inside and your eyes adjusted to the darkness you'd begin to see miners working to get the gold out of the mountain.  Had they known just how easy it was just across the way over by the lake.  All the kids were striking gold over at the gold panning area.   Well at the end of the ride there was always that crazy prospector with the case of TNT firing off his pistols.  Watch out for that spark.....KABLEWIEEEE BOOM BAM!  The ore carts would exit over by the trout pond and it was back to Frontier Village.

Next to that was the El Sito Myterio.  This building had the slanted floors and walls.  Water appeared to run up hill, brooms would stand by themselves, Bowling balls would roll up hill, and your little brother grew taller than you just by walking across the room.   It was always fun to stand at a good lean without falling over.

Then came one of my favorite rides.  It was the Sidewinder, a classic carnival Tilt-A-Whirl ride.  There was just something about the one at Frontier Village that it ran faster and more intense that at other places.

In doing this article I found an old park map.  It reminded me that I was wrong about the Stampede's location.  It was down a path past the Sidewinder.   I kinda recall it being originally at the location of the Tarantula, and then moved to it's newer location near sidewinder.  Maybe someone can refresh my memory.

Stay tuned for further adventures from my memory

 

Part 1 http://activerain.com/blogsview/717285/Frontier-Village-Part-1

Part 2 http://activerain.com/blogsview/718430/Frontier-Village-Part-2

Part 3 http://activerain.com/blogsview/718484/Frontier-Village-Part-3

Part 4 http://activerain.com/blogsview/721314/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 5 http://activerain.com/blogsview/721431/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 6 http://activerain.com/blogsview/723682/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 7 http://activerain.com/blogsview/732184/Frontier-Village-Part-7

Once again I transcribed the open house guide from the San Leandro Times and rearranged it for your convenience. 

If you miss seeing any of these, I would be more than happy to represent you as the buyer.  Call me and I can arrange for a viewing.

<<<< Remember this Sunday is San Leandro's Sausages and Suds Fest.  It's an Ideal day to go out and look at some San Leandro properties and then party downtown and meet the neighbors! >>>>>

San Leandro

976 Helen Avenue , San Leandro

Offered at $599,000.00 through Prudential California Realty.

4 bedrooms / 3 baths

Sat 12-4   Sun 12-4

 

3444 Chaplet Street, San Leandro

Offered at $525,000.00 through United Brokers Real Estate

3 bedrooms / 2.5 baths

Sun 2-4

 

1135 Arthur Avenue, San Leandro

Offered at $319,000.00 through Cynthia Landini

2 bedrooms / 1.5 baths

Sat 12:30 - 3:30

 

2246 Blackpool Place, San Leandro

Offered at $379,000.00 through Rinetti & Co. Realtors

3 bedrooms / 2.5 baths

Sun 2-4

 

891 Arbor Drive, San Leandro

Offered at $449,000.00 through Deadrich Real Estate

3 bedrooms / 1 baths

Sun 2-4

 

890 Fulton Avenue, San Leandro

Offered at $524,976.00 through Re/Max in Motion

4 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 1-4

 

2368 Farley Street, Castro Valley

Offered at $349,950.00 through Prudential California Realty

2 bedrooms / 1 bath

Sun 1:30-4

 

1441 Regent Drive, San Leandro

Offered at $639,000.00 through Rinetti & Co. Realtors

3 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 2-4

 

16723 Hannah Drive, San Leandro

Offered at $374,900 through Prudential California Realty

3 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 1-4

 

14416 Outrigger Drive, San Leandro

Offered at $449,000.00 through United Brokers Real Estate

3 bedrooms / 2.5 baths

Sat 1-4

 

San Lorenzo

Nothing this week :(

 

Hayward

Nothing this week :(

 

Castro Valley

21119 Aspen Avenue, Castro Valley

Offered at $489,950 through Help-U-Sell Best Yet Realty

3 bedrooms / 1.5 baths

Sun 1-4

 

18303 Vineyard Road, Castro Valley

Offered at $524,900 through Prudential California Realty

3 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 1-4

 

2825 Chloe Court, Castro Valley

Offered at $525,000 through Don Morris Realty

3 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 1:30-4

 

4291 Omega Avenue, Castro Valley

Offered at $565,000 through Hometown GMAC Real Estate

3 bedrooms / 2 baths

Sun 1-4

 

19013 Helton Street, Castro Valley

Offered at $738,000 through Coldwell Banker

4 bedrooms / 2.5 baths

Sun 1-4

 

17565 Oakshire Place, Castro Valley

Offered at $1,099,000 through Prudential California Realty

4 bedrooms / 3 baths

Sun 1-4

 

18698 Mount Lassen Drive, Castro Valley

Offered at $875,000 through Coldwell Banker

4 bedrooms / 3 baths

Sun 1-4

 

Oakland

2257 High Street, Oakland

Offered at $279,888.00 through Help-U-Sell Best Yet Realty

3 bedrooms / 1 bath

Sun 1-4

 

Piedmont

29 Olive Avenue, Oakland

Offered at $899,000.00 through Re/Max in Motion

2 bedrooms / 3 baths

Sun 2-4:30

 

Fremont

Nothing this week :(

 

Alameda

Nothing this week :(

 

San Ramon

1119 Chancery Way, San Ramon

Offered at $899,950.00 through Help-U-Sell Best Yet Realty

5 bedrooms / 3 baths

Sat 12-5   Sun 12-5

 

 

See Also: http://activerain.com/blogsview/723623/Prudential-California-Realty-Open for additional open houses this weekend!

In my last blog on this subject we had just entered San Jose's Frontier Village and were still in front of the train station.

Just over the train tracks and to your right was a path that went behind some of the buildings that were on the Main Street.  This path lead to two of the most fun rides at Frontier Village, The Stampede and Tarantula! 

The Stampede was a flat spinning ride where the riders would board a long bench like seat that was mounted with two other benches like spokes on a wheel.  That wheel would be connected to other wheels connected to a central hub and the entire contraption would spin.

The Tarantula came later and was also a spinning flat ride.  This time the riders rode in bucket like contraptions that closed up around your feet and locked you in.  The Tarantula would go round and round very similar to the Stampede, but the Tarantula would also get some elevation as part of the ride would spin around.

Marriott's Great America had a ride like the Tarantula called the Lobster located in their Yankee Harbor theme area.

Journeying back to Main Street again you would find the main souvenir shop.  There was also cigar store Indians to take pictures with.  I remember the Spin-Art booth that would take poster board and place them on old record players.  You would take squeeze bottle of paint and drip them on to the spinning piece of paper.  It wasn't very Old West but it was the 1960s.

I remember buildings like the Saloon, Jail House and just stores in general.   Main Street was the actual heart of the working amusement park.  Town Square in front of the train station was the picture spot.

There I go again.  I've filled up another entire blog.  

The Real estate tie-in will come in the conclusion of this series....thank you for being so patient!

 

Part 1 http://activerain.com/blogsview/717285/Frontier-Village-Part-1

Part 2 http://activerain.com/blogsview/718430/Frontier-Village-Part-2

Part 3 http://activerain.com/blogsview/718484/Frontier-Village-Part-3

Part 4 http://activerain.com/blogsview/721314/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 5 http://activerain.com/blogsview/721431/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 6 http://activerain.com/blogsview/723682/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 7 http://activerain.com/blogsview/732184/Frontier-Village-Part-7  

 Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1960s I have very fond memories of San Jose's Frontier Village.

I remember the long journey from San Leandro where we lived all the way down to South San Jose.  We would take what was then Highway 17 (The Nimitz) down to San Jose and then onto Interstate 101.  After the long drive through San Jose (it seemed so huge back then) to the Ford Road exit near the IBM plant.  After exiting Ford Road there was a right turn on the the road called Monterey Road taking us back North into San Jose for about a mile.  This section of Monterey Road had the Southern Pacific train track along the left side.

As you neared Branham Lane you began to see the tall eucalyptus trees of Frontier Village.  At Branham Lane you take the left turn and over the train tracks and you were there.  One last left turn would get our old trusty '65 Ford Country Squire Station Wagon into the Frontier Village gravel parking lot.

It was a great site for a young boy to see!  There it was a perfect frontier wilderness stockade fort right out of your Davy Crockett play imagination.   On the stockade log walls was the brightly painted "Frontier Village" signs.  There was no mistaking where you were.

Once inside the first thing my brothers and I did was to explore the upper levels of the stockade forts upper gatehouses.  We of course were protecting the townsfolk from the wild next bunch of tourists entering the park.

A quick walk across the creek was the park's first ride was the Ferris wheel.  It seemed so very tall at the time.  It seemed that you could see the whole park from that vantage point.   I remember that you could start to smell the cotton candy and popcorn from the Ferris wheel.

Leaving the ferris wheel the walkway opened up to the town square.  On Town square and straight ahead was the Frontier Village logo building the train station.  Over to the left was a walkway to some of the older rides and the schoolhouse exhibit.  I looked like the children attending that school had just left for recess and would return at any moment.  There was also a merry-go-round in that area too.

To the right of the train station was the wider Main Street of Frontier Village.  This was the place where the sheriff would get into daily shoot-outs with the bank robbers.  Bang bang pop pop!

Okay I'm going to stop here today to give me something to blog about at a later date.

 

Here are some links that you may enjoy:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FrontierVillage/

http://www.frontiervillage.net/

and some Youtube videos:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=frontier+village+san+jose&search_type=&aq=9&oq=frontier+v

 

Part 1 http://activerain.com/blogsview/717285/Frontier-Village-Part-1

Part 2 http://activerain.com/blogsview/718430/Frontier-Village-Part-2

Part 3 http://activerain.com/blogsview/718484/Frontier-Village-Part-3

Part 4 http://activerain.com/blogsview/721314/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 5 http://activerain.com/blogsview/721431/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 6 http://activerain.com/blogsview/723682/Frontier-Village-Memories-Part

Part 7 http://activerain.com/blogsview/732184/Frontier-Village-Part-7