Unincorporated Town, Alameda County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 94586
Hamlet about three miles
south of Pleasanton. Lots of small-town flavor. Unincorporated. www.mccormacks.com
Has its own school
district, Sunol Glen, with one elementary, kindergarten to eighth, enrollment
about 200, scores in the 80th and 90th percentiles, top
20 percent. See Schools.
Because Sunol has few
people, the school welcomes students from outside its attendance zone. For
information, call (925) 862-2026.
Tiny downtown: post
office, antique store, pub, food & liquor, realty office, town hall.
Almost all of the
housing is strung along a deep arroyo with brook (Kildare Road) that runs
several miles back into the hills. Also on this road, a small winery with a
tasting room. Playing field at the school. Large regional park in the hills;
hiking and horse trails.
Housing a mix of custom
imaginative to tract knockoffs to country cottage. Some striking homes on hills
with views of countryside. www.mccormacks.com
Interstate 680 less than
a half mile to the east but because Sunol sits in a valley it escapes, with few
exceptions, the freeway lights and noise.
On the south side of
town, San Francisco owns watershed land, some of which has been turned into an
18-hole golf course. The site also contains a “temple” to water, 24 columns
topped by a dome, built in 1910. Restored, the temple has turned into a minor
attraction.
Sunol’s biggest
attraction is its railroad museum. The town sits astride an abandoned line that
was taken over by train buffs who relaid the rails and run antique trains, from
Sunol to Niles Canyon in Fremont.
Owned by the Pacific Locomotive
Association, the Niles Canyon train travels throughout the year and is
especially popular in November and December when the Train of Lights takes to
the tracks. Also popular, wine tasting excursions, sponsored by the local
wineries. For information, www.ncry.org
Sunol is famous for
sticking up for its interests. When the county wanted to stick a composting
center in the area, residents protested persistently and vociferously and
successfully. www.mccormacks.com
