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The Original ‘Backrooms’ Location (John’s Hobbies)

In 2019, an anonymous photo of a windowless room with eerie yellow wallpaper was posted to 4chan from this building, launching 'The Backrooms', one of the internet’s most massive collaborative horror phenomena.

Oshkosh, Wisconsin

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Photo taken in April 2025   user Mothxr_Drone on Reddit
Photo taken in April 2025   user Mothxr_Drone on Reddit
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For years, the real-world location of the original Backrooms photo remained a total mystery. In 2024, dedicated internet sleuths traced the image back to a 2003 renovation photo taken inside this Oshkosh building while it was being converted from an old furniture store.

Today, the building houses John's Hobbies. While the infamous yellow walls have been completely remodelled, the upper floor where the picture was taken now operates as an RC car racetrack, drawing internet culture enthusiasts from all over the world.

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August 11, 2026

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