Reuters reports that The Eagles have filed a lawsuit against a Baja, Mexico hotel billing itself as the Hotel California. Located in Todos Santos, the hotel carried the name when it opened, back in the 1950s, before changing it frequently over the years. A Canadian couple bought the place in 2001, returning it to the original name, piping Eagles’ songs into the lobby, and selling shirts dubbing it the “legendary” Hotel California. (No word on whether they hold dances in the courtyard, or whether any members of the staff are afflicted with the terrible Mercedes bends.)
The lawsuit claims that the proprietors “actively encourage” tourists to belive that the hotel’s Eagles affiliation is official. “Defendants lead U.S. consumers to believe that the Todos Santos Hotel is associated with the Eagles and, among other things, served as the inspiration for the lyrics in ‘Hotel California,’ which is false,” the complaint reads. Members of the Eagles have frequently asserted that the song isn’t based on any real-world place. (Meanwhile, the hotel’s owners apparently attempted to trademark their use of “Hotel California” in the U.S., as well.)
Honestly, we’re not sure why you’d actually want to stay at the Hotel California, in any case. After all, the wine selection is famously limited, the decor is tacky as hell (mirrors on the ceiling?), and while the check-out procedure is fairly straightforward, it’s an absolute pain in the ass to leave.