LA's Secret Celebrity Tunnel Was Just a Rumor. Until Workers Found It.

SFGate ^ | Aug 3, 2025 | Paula Mejía

[nickcarraway]

In its near-century of existence, Chateau Marmont — a faux French castle perched on a hill near the entrance of West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip — has kept countless secrets for the artists, actors and other icons that have stalked its halls. It has also held a few mysteries of its own, including a long-rumored secret tunnel.

In its near-century of existence, Chateau Marmont — a faux French castle perched on a hill near the entrance of West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip — has kept countless secrets for the artists, actors and other icons that have stalked its halls. It has also held a few mysteries of its own, including a long-rumored secret tunnel.

Famously, the bohemian playground-slash-hotel doesn’t allow photos in its public spaces so that guests can unwind away from the outside world’s prying eyes. (Not that it’s ever stopped paparazzi from lurking on the sidewalk right outside.) As such, Chateau Marmont’s reputation as a comforting haven has made it a Hollywood favorite, with film director Billy Wilder once describing its appeal this way: “I would rather sleep in a bathroom than in another hotel.”

Every once in a while, though, fizzy tales do manage to trickle outside Chateau’s secretive walls, such as when Lindsay Lohan reportedly racked up a staggering $46,000 tab from her extensive stay there, or when Doors rocker Jim Morrison scaled the rooftops of the hotel’s bungalows late at night throughout the 1960s.

Some of the most intriguing apocryphal stories about Chateau Marmont have to do with the building itself. Stories have swirled since the hotel’s unlikely opening in 1929, back when farmland peppered this then-unincorporated stretch. One oft-told yarn about Chateau Marmont — that rock band Led Zeppelin rode their motorcycles through the hotel — isn’t actually true, since the hallways were minuscule back then.

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TOPICS: Conspiracy; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: chateaumarmont; johnbelushi; losangeles; sunsetstrip

[marktwain]

I have always liked the idea of secret tunnels and door and things like Priest’s holes.

Of course, today, electronics and digital cameras can do great spying without the tunnels...

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Sunset Blvd has become lifeless in keeping with the rest of LA in general sadly. The glam factor is lost. Things close early, homeless roam the sidewalks by the Chateau, etc…

[mairdie]

I finally found my great grandfather’s summer home and met the current owner, who gave me a tour. One of her wonderful stories was that after the health spa bought it following ggfather’s death, it was purchased by an unnamed rock musician who was also reputed to ride his motorcycle thru the underground tunnel that connected the main house to the indoor pool. Got to walk the tunnel. Love it!

[Jonty30]

You’d love what Colin Fruze has done with his English home. I have no idea how he got away with building his underground secret lair.

[Flash Bazbeaux]

The opening “This is the City” recitation of this Dragnet episode from Season 3, around 1953-54, pans across the Chateau Marmont from left to right, from 0:27 to 0:32, looking down on Sunset Strip. It also features Aunt Bee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqnBg2VeyjQ&t=36s

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

I never stayed at the Marmont, but I wandered into the lobby/foyer as part of my explorations of LA. When I first moved to LA in the early 80’s, I loved 1920’s/1930’s Hollywood and lots of my film/video clients were in offices on Seward St (the “video ghetto” we used to call it) in bungalows that dated to that era. Plus the major studio lots where I went on occasion to visit clients all dated from that era.

The Marmont had a fairly large lobby with Spanish tile and castle-like overstuffed furniture, probably looked just like it did in the 30’s. It was very cozy, not exactly my style but it looked right for the hotel. And of course you knew you were in this famous place. Fun.

Lots of pix at google images.

[sphinx]

I’ve never been there but I gather that it is still a major events space.

[Vaduz]

Check