An ideal setting for making history. Much like today.
During the Roaring ‘20s, Oakland was booming. Families flocked to the foothills for idyllic indoor/outdoor living, easy access to downtown by car, abundant fresh air and a country club lifestyle. And so, this sheltered spot was chosen from all of California to house a landmark recreation center for golfers and nature-loving families to enjoy.
Over the next 20 years, Oak Knoll Golf Course and Country Club put Oakland Hills on the map, launching a prolific collection of golf and country clubs in the region—none more iconic, distinctive or artistic than the original.
Half a century of groundbreaking military care.
In early spring of 1942, the world changed and so did Oak Knoll. This sprawling land became the nucleus of a nurturing 54-year history as the Naval Hospital, Oakland, ultimately spanning 135 medical, athletic and support buildings on 220 acres. At its peak, the hospital treated more than 6,000 WWII patients with about 3,000 military and civilian staff—one of the Navy’s largest medical operations. Along with loved ones from across the nation, famed entertainers like Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Jack Benny came to boost the morale of the wounded.
Over the decades, the Naval Hospital provided quality care for active duty and retired personnel of the Armed Forces and their dependents during the Korean Conflict, Vietnam War and peacetime. It was also home to major advancements in patient care, training and research. Through it all, the compound retained its original country club atmosphere—a boon for military families—with Oak Knoll’s spacious Spanish-style golf clubhouse transitioning from administrative offices to a handsome Officer’s Club.
During the 1990s, the facilities were decommissioned, creating a new story in the enduring heritage of Oak Knoll.
Live your own legacy in a place where the roots run deep.
The new Oak Knoll community celebrates the very same spirit that’s delighted families and players for nearly a century. To begin, the historic 1928 Spanish building, once the Oak Knoll golf clubhouse and then the Officer’s Club, has been meticulously restored, relocated and reimagined as an inviting community center—a phenomenal feat that says everything about how much this place means to new generations.
Once again, families will flock to a welcoming social haven—a natural rallying spot for the outdoor, nature-loving people of Oakland. A place to promote the spirit of good fellowship with families and friends from near and far. A home. A legacy. A rare opportunity to steward the rich history of the land.
