San Simeon Pines hotel in Cambria is sold

For 57 years, the Bonser family (and subsequently the corporation it founded) has had an oceanview inn on Moonstone Beach Drive in Cambria. That changed last week, when William “Bill” Bonser, CEO of San Simeon Pines Corp., sold the 60-room, 9-acre property to Pacifica Hotels.

Pacifica now owns 11 hotels in San Luis Obispo County, including six on Moonstone Beach Drive.

Morgan Thompson is San Simeon Pines’ new manager, having been transferred there Thursday from a Pacifica property in Pismo Beach.

The Tribune was unable to reach Pacifica’s area manager for comment. But Nancy Carr, who has worked for Bonser for 11 years, said Thursday she believes all San Simeon Pines employees were offered jobs under the new management and that most had accepted them.

Pacifica calls itself the largest owner and operator of boutique and independent hotels on the Pacific Coast, with 34 properties in key California cities from San Diego to San Francisco, plus one each in Florida and Hawaii.

However, Moonstone Beach Drive — a prime tourist destination in Cambria — is a focus for Pacifica. It now owns San Simeon Pines, Fireside Inn, Cambria Landing Inn & Suites, Fog Catcher Inn, Pelican Inn & Suites and El Colibri Hotel & Spa along the nearly 2-mile road across from Moonstone Beach boardwalk, Leffingwell Landing and state park bluff areas.

Pacifica’s founders have emotional ties to this area, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Barry. Pacifica Chairman Dale Marquis and his sons, CEO/President Matt Marquis and Executive Vice President Matt Marquis, all are Santa Barbara natives, Barry said, and the Cambria “destination is close to their hearts.”

The corporation formed in 1993 also owns Holiday Inn Express on Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo; Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach; and Cottage Inn, The Tides Oceanview Inn & Cottages and Sandcastle Inn in Pismo Beach. Pacifica also owns two lodgings in Santa Barbara.

A news release states that the firm focuses on “strategic asset acquisitions, full-property renovations and transitioning branded properties to independent status.”

The firm declined to release terms of the transaction, including price.

A news release notes that the property has “expansive grounds and gardens, a private beach trail and lawn games,” plus “a solar-heated pool, wood-burning fireplaces, free parking, complimentary daily breakfast and complimentary wireless Internet access.”

Barry said she believes some guest-room renovation is planned for this year but that the corporation hasn’t yet firmed up its intentions for any other changes, such as what the future might hold for the oceanview, nine-hole golf course.

Lew Bonser designed and built San Simeon Pines. Bonser and son Bill created the resort in stages through the mid-1980s.

Local duffers have yearned for years to play the course (it’s the only one in Cambria), but previous use was restricted to resort guests.

Other local residents have suggested in the past that the course be converted to a less maintenance-intensive sport, such as Frisbee golf.

This story was originally published February 26, 2016 at 2:32 PM with the headline "San Simeon Pines hotel in Cambria is sold."