The scenery was the star, the swooping lawns led to the pool, shuffleboard courts, and the grand Pacific Ocean, with the iconic Pismo Pier jutting out nearby in the background. A local pastor, Barney Northcote, purchased the hotel in the 1970s. Mr. Northcote envisioned more of a complete destination for families to experience the Central Coast. He broke ground on the two new towers in 1980, and completed them in 1982, along with the north and south spas and other cosmetic upgrades. Mr. Northcote presided over a busy, happy time at the hotel, promoting an atmosphere that attracted mostly families and religious groups, nearly all of whom had been coming since the hotel was founded. After he passed away, his daughter Nancy Northcote guided the resort with that “original 1960s Pismo Beach style” through busier times, with ever more groups and families making SeaCrest their own tradition.