Construction Notice: Elevator 3 modernization — out of service until further notice (as of March 4, 2026)
Construction Notice: Indoor pool & spa closed for repairs, expected reopening Spring 2026
Coastal Villas / Hilton Head Island / Forest Beach / Sea Crest
Sea Crest oceanfront vacation rentals in Forest Beach, Hilton Head Island

Vacation Rentals in Forest Beach, Hilton Head Island

Sea Crest

Forest Beach · Hilton Head Island, SC

10 N Forest Beach Dr, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 · View on Google Maps →

Resort-level amenities at Sea Crest in Forest Beach: 130 oceanfront villas, 1-5BR, indoor pool, fitness center, steps from Coligny. See weekly availability and rates across all managers.

78
Rated Units
1999
Year Built
136
Total Units
5
Floors
8
Property Managers
Recent renovation completed
Scope: Full roof replacement; Elevator 3 modernization (February 2026); indoor pool and spa repairs
Dates: September 2, 2025 – April 30, 2026

Sea Crest completed a phased full roof replacement in April 2026 alongside Elevator 3 modernization (February) and indoor pool/spa repairs. Different buildings were affected at different points; Building 3 was less impacted.

What it means for your stay: Roof replacement complete and Elevator 3 is back in service. The indoor pool and spa were scheduled to reopen Spring 2026 — confirm current status with your PM at booking, especially for off-season stays where the indoor pool is part of the appeal.

Source: Sea Crest Resort guest communications + Forest Beach community sources · Verified 2026-05-02
Overview

Located in the North Forest Beach area of Forest Beach.

Best for
  • ✓families who want resort amenities without resort prices
  • ✓off-season visitors (indoor pool is year-round)
  • ✓anyone wanting Coligny walkability plus on-site amenities
  • ✓remote workers (strong WiFi, fitness center)
Not ideal for
  • −Guests seeking quiet seclusion
  • −Anyone during active roof construction phases (check building)
  • −Visitors who prefer gated-community exclusivity

Building investment: 3 unit renovations permitted in the last 2 years (county records).

Sea Crest is the closest thing to a full-service resort in the Forest Beach area of Hilton Head Island, with 130 units across three oceanfront buildings directly across the street from Coligny Plaza. The amenity list is genuinely impressive: two outdoor pools (one heated in spring), an outdoor hot tub, an indoor resistance pool and heated spa for year-round swimming, a seasonal poolside bar (Pool Bar Jim's, a family-owned institution for 40-plus years), and a fitness center. That indoor pool alone makes Sea Crest a standout for off-season visitors or rainy days.

The location is hard to beat for convenience. Coligny Plaza's 60-plus shops, restaurants, movie theater, and Piggly Wiggly grocery store are literally across the street. Coligny Beach Park with its oceanside swings and kid-friendly water fountains is minutes away. You can park your car on arrival and walk to everything you need for the duration of your stay on Hilton Head Island. No gate fees apply since Forest Beach is not a gated community.

Sea Crest was built in 1999 by Robert Graves Sr., one of Hilton Head's pioneering developers, with concrete and steel construction. Each building has parking garage access with elevators and two parking passes per unit. Our assessments show an encouraging renovation trend, with multiple units featuring coffered ceilings, exposed beams, designer furniture, and gut-renovated kitchens with waterfall quartz islands. The honest trade-off: the Coligny area gets busy in summer, a neighboring nightclub can be heard in some units until late, and a roof construction project running through April 2026 affects Buildings 1 and 2.

Our take: Best overall amenity package near Coligny with a genuine indoor pool and fitness center, but the Coligny area gets busy in summer and the roof construction project (through April 2026) may affect some units.

Getting around: Minimal car necessity. Coligny Plaza across the street covers grocery, dining, shopping, entertainment. Bikes practical for exploring island's path network.

Verified facts

What we know about this building

Structured facts from public records, PM data, and on-site research. Last refreshed 2026-05-30

1999
Built
130
Total units
0 min
Walk to beach
5
Floors

What’s here

Heated pool
1 outdoor pool heated in March and April. Indoor pool heated year-round.
Hot tub
Kiddie pool
Indoor pool
Indoor resistance pool and indoor heated spa — available year-round
Pool bar
Outdoor poolside bar (open seasonally)
Poolside bathroom
Boardwalk to beach
Chair/umbrella rental
chairs + umbrellas
Elevator
×6
Accessible common areas
Fitness center
On-site fitness center with indoor resistance pool
Sea-turtle lighting

What’s nearby

Grocery
Piggly Wiggly at Coligny Plaza — directly across the street (~0.1 mi / 2-min walk). Full grocery + local seafood counter. Walkable grocery is rare on HHI.
Dining
Pool Bar Jim's (on-site, seasonal) — adjacent. Frosty Frog Cafe and Coligny Plaza restaurants directly across the street (~200 ft / 2-min walk).
Shopping
Coligny Plaza directly across the street — 60+ shops, restaurants, movie theater, seasonal entertainment. Tagline: '73 steps from the beach.'
Show all building facts 32 structured facts

Beach

Beach proximity
Oceanfront
Walk to beach
0 min
Beach access
Direct beach access from resort
Path to beach
✓
Chair/umbrella rental
✓ chairs + umbrellas

Pools

Pools
2 pools
Heated
✓
When heated
1 outdoor pool heated in March and April. Indoor pool heated year-round.
Hot tub
✓
Kiddie pool
✓
Indoor pool
✓ Indoor resistance pool and indoor heated spa — available year-round
Pool bar
✓ Outdoor poolside bar (open seasonally)
Poolside bathroom
✓

Building

Year built
1999
Total units
130 units
In Coastal Villas catalog
50 units
Floors
5 floors
PMs renting units
Beach Properties of Hilton Head, HH Vacations, Island Getaway +4 more

Access

Elevator
✓ Community elevators located in parking garage
Accessible common areas
✓
Accessible beach access
Beach access via boardwalk — wheelchair accessibility not confirmed. Coligny Beach Park nearby has dedicated ADA beach access.
ADA notes
Elevator access in all three buildings from covered parking garage to residential floors. Elevator 3 has been undergoing modernization (out of service since February 2026) — confirm status before booking if mobility-dependent.

Parking

Type
Covered garage
Spaces per unit
2 per unit

On-site

Laundry
In-unit
Recycling
—
Package receiving
—

Recreation

Fitness center
✓ On-site fitness center with indoor resistance pool

Walkability

Bike-path connected
✓

Location

Gated community
—

Policies

Smoking
Non-smoking
Sea-turtle lighting May–Oct
✓ HHI municipal lights-out rule, May 1 – Oct 31, applies to oceanfront-facing units
Building Details

At a glance

Year Built
1999
Total Units
136
3 buildings
Floors
5
Regime Fee
$959 - $1,569
Construction
Concrete and steel frame
Pool
Multiple pools including oceanfront pool and indoor pool
Beach Access
Oceanfront on Atlantic, east-facing. Private boardwalk with outdoor shower. Near Coligny Beach Park. Forest Beach renourishment Phase 2-3 active Dec 2025 - May 2026.
Parking
Covered parking garage — ground floor of buildings. 2 elevators in garage. Maximum 2 vehicles per unit. Parking passes required. May be impacted during construction.
Quality Distribution

Unit Quality Breakdown

4 Luxury · 26 Premium · 38 Comfortable · 10 Classic across 78 rated units

4 Luxury
26 Premium
38 Comfortable
10 Classic
Nearby

What's around

Guest Reviews

TripAdvisor

4.0/5.0
None reviews · #25 of 61 specialty lodging in Hilton Head
Common praise:
  • Heart of Coligny — walking distance to everything
  • Two pools well-maintained, pool bar (Jim's), hot tub
  • Private boardwalk, outdoor shower, wide sandy beach steps away
Common concerns:
  • Common area maintenance — lobby/hallways described as dirty in some buildings
  • Neighboring nightclub noise reverberates into units until ~2:30 AM
  • Pool Bar Jim's drinks considered expensive ($13+ for frozen drinks)
Real Estate Context

Market Position

2 Bedroom
$675,000 - $1,200,000
3 Bedroom
$1,200,000 - $2,000,000

Average list price ~$1,567,000. Penthouse/combined units up to $2,995,000.

All Units

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Insider Tips

Things to know before you go

Best For

Who should stay here

Guest voices

What guests say about Sea Crest

"We had a wonderful time with family at your property. We have a tradition for the siblings and spouses to vacation together every year in September to honor my mother's birthday. Loved the amenities and walkability to the beach and shops. Would definitely consider staying there again."
Stayed at Unit 1301 →
"We've been staying at Sea Crest for the last several years and will return. Perfect location, beautiful grounds. Right on the beach. We can walk across the street to Coligny Plaza. We did not use the beach towels provided, but that's a nice touch."
Stayed at Unit 2406 →
"Always beautiful. Been staying here every year for 10 years. It just simply has it all. You always "find your beach"!"
Stayed at Unit 2401 →
Market Pulse

Latest market updates mentioning Sea Crest

All rated units

Browse every unit at Sea Crest

78 units rated room-by-room. Use the filter above for an interactive view or jump straight to a unit below.

Property Managers

8 managers cover this building

Complete Inventory

More licensed rentals at Sea Crest

30 additional units in this building hold an active Town short-term-rental permit but are not yet CV-rated — typically owner-managed rentals listed on Vrbo or Airbnb. Shown for completeness; every Hilton Head rental is required by Town ordinance to maintain a 24/7 local contact who responds within one hour.

#4 Owner door Town STR Permit #11326 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#7 Owner door Town STR Permit #27969 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#9 Owner door Town STR Permit #36325 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#10 Owner door Town STR Permit #33856 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#404 Owner door Town STR Permit #32103 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#1101 Owner door Town STR Permit #28871 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#1105 Owner door Town STR Permit #25441 · not CV-rated yet View on Airbnb →
#1306 Owner door ocean view Town STR Permit #17799 · not CV-rated yet View on Vrbo →
#1405 Owner door Town STR Permit #32120 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#1503 Owner door Town STR Permit #35126 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
Show all 30 licensed rentals
#2102 Owner door Town STR Permit #33131 · not CV-rated yet View on Expedia →
#2106 Owner door ocean view Town STR Permit #26852 · not CV-rated yet View on Whimstay →
#2113 Owner door Town STR Permit #23884 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#2201 Owner door 1BR · oceanfront Town STR Permit #20428 · not CV-rated yet View on Vrbo →
#2213 Owner door Town STR Permit #28585 · not CV-rated yet View on Expedia →
#2215 Owner door Town STR Permit #25431 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#2304 Owner door Town STR Permit #34440 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#2312 Owner door Town STR Permit #31855 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#2313 Owner door ocean view Town STR Permit #34479 · not CV-rated yet View on Airbnb →
#2402 Owner door Town STR Permit #36754 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#2405 Owner door Town STR Permit #28869 · not CV-rated yet View on Booking →
#2512 Owner door 4BR Town STR Permit #28756 · not CV-rated yet View on Vrbo →
#2513 Owner door Town STR Permit #27695 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#2515 Owner door ocean view Town STR Permit #28578 · not CV-rated yet View on Airbnb →
#3101 Owner door Town STR Permit #24620 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#3104 Owner door 2BR · 2BA · oceanfront Town STR Permit #32129 · not CV-rated yet View on Booking →
#3205 Owner door oceanfront Town STR Permit #31444 · not CV-rated yet View on Expedia →
#3401 Owner door Town STR Permit #29461 · not CV-rated yet Licensed rental
#3503 Owner door Town STR Permit #28010 · not CV-rated yet View on Tripadvisor →
#3504 Owner door 2BR · oceanfront Town STR Permit #21501 · not CV-rated yet View on Booking →

Own one of these units? Get it CV-rated free →

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FAQ

Common questions about Sea Crest

Is Sea Crest oceanfront?
Yes — Sea Crest sits directly on the Forest Beach oceanfront at 10 N Forest Beach Drive, with a private boardwalk to the beach. Coligny Plaza is directly across the street. The complex has 130 units across three five-story buildings, each with garage access and elevators (six elevators total).
Does Sea Crest have an indoor pool?
Yes — Sea Crest is one of very few Forest Beach buildings with a year-round indoor pool. The amenity package includes 2 outdoor pools (one heated in spring), an outdoor hot tub, an indoor resistance pool, an indoor heated spa, and a fitness center. The indoor pool was closed for repairs as of early 2026 with reopening expected spring 2026 — confirm status with your PM before booking.
What is Pool Bar Jim's at Sea Crest?
Sea Crest's on-site oceanfront pool bar — family-owned and operating for 40+ years, located at 10 N Forest Beach Drive behind the Sea Crest. Tropical frozen drinks, light food, live music Thursday and Friday, open 11 AM to 6 PM seasonally. Drinks run $13+, but the location and live music make it a Coligny institution.
How is Sea Crest different from Breakers?
Both are oceanfront Forest Beach condos right at Coligny Plaza, but Sea Crest is the resort-amenity option. Sea Crest has 130 units across three 5-story buildings with elevators, multiple pools (including indoor), a fitness center, and Pool Bar Jim's on site. Breakers next door is small (120 units, 3 stories, no elevator), with compact 518-sqft 1BRs and basic pool amenities. Pick Sea Crest for families wanting resort amenities; Breakers for couples on a budget who just need walkability.
Is there construction at Sea Crest right now?
Yes — a major roof replacement runs September 2025 through April 2026: Phase 1 Building 2 (Sept-Nov 2025), Phase 2 Building 1 courtyard side (Nov 2025-Jan 2026), Phase 3 Building 1 street side (Jan-Apr 2026). Building 3 has no roof work — request a Building 3 unit if you want to avoid construction. Elevator 3 is also out of service for modernization. Pools, beach access, and Pool Bar Jim's stay open.
How do I tell which Sea Crest building a unit is in?
First digit of the unit number indicates the building. 1xx = Building 1 (use 3-digit numbering), 2xxx = Building 2, 3xxx = Building 3. Building 3 currently has no roof construction, so it's the safest pick during the 2025-2026 project window.
Can I hear nightclub noise from Sea Crest units?
Some units yes — a neighboring nightclub can be heard in some Sea Crest units until around 2:30 AM. If you're a light sleeper or traveling with young children, ask your property manager about which units are quietest. Building/floor combination matters; the ones farthest from the street face less impact.
When is Sea Crest cheapest to rent?
November through March, when off-season Coligny rates drop substantially. Trade-offs: Pool Bar Jim's is seasonal, the outdoor pools aren't heated year-round, and some nearby restaurants reduce hours. The indoor pool and spa (when reopened) make Sea Crest unusually strong for off-season visitors compared to other Forest Beach options.