Long before any homes stood here, the land around Wildwood Glen was part of the traditional territory of the Coast Miwok people. They lived in deep relationship with the land, practicing controlled burns, tending oak woodlands, and moving seasonally through the valleys and ridges.

Their stewardship shaped the very landscape we live on today: the open grasslands, the clear ridge lines, and the wildlife corridors that still surround our neighborhood. We honor their care, and the many generations who lived sustainably on this ridge before us.

For more than a century, this hilltop remained largely untouched ranchland. The early dirt roads that now form our neighborhood’s circulation network began as simple ranch access routes, used for tending cattle, transporting hay, and crossing the ridge.

The land was open, windswept, and alive with wildlife. Hawks, foxes, bobcats, and seasonal deer migrations were part of everyday life, much as they are now.

Builders were slow to move into this area. Even as Novato grew, Wildwood Glen stayed quiet, rural, and almost hidden.

Most homes in Wildwood Glen were built in the 1990s, when interest grew in living closer to nature and farther from the bustle of town centers. Early residents have told us that the homes are built quite well, especially for earthquakes. Children were raised here, dancing at block parties and cheering at soccer games with a shared sense of a village caring for the kids. This spirit of collaboration like this is the foundation of ReVillage Wildwood Glen today.

In recent years, the neighborhood has seen new families, longtime residents, and a renewed desire to rebuild the close-knit feel Wildwood Glen was known for. Power outages, evacuation scares, and unexpected events have reminded us that community resilience matters and that we’re strongest when we show up for each other.

Out of this came the seeds of ReVillage Wildwood Glen:
a group of neighbors who believe in connection, preparedness, and a shared responsibility to keep each other safe.

Today, we carry forward the long tradition of neighborliness, from monthly Olive Branch journals to go-bag workshops, WhatsApp check-ins, and community trainings.