Sunnydale Toy's R US Ghost photo

 By Aaron Perez

4/15/2026

Image Credit: Stranger Dimensions @Dimentoid

    For generations of kids (and plenty of adults), walking into a Toys "R" Us meant entering a wonderland of endless possibility—bright lights, colorful packaging, and the distant sound of toy demos. But at one particular location in Sunnyvale, California, the magic went beyond the merchandise. From the day it opened in 1970 at 130 El Camino Real, the store gained a reputation as one of America's most famous haunted toy stores. Employees, customers, and even television crews reported strange occurrences that turned a retail paradise into a paranormal playground.

The Land Before the Toys

    The story begins long before plastic action figures and stuffed animals filled the shelves. The property once belonged to the Murphy family, early California settlers. Martin Murphy Jr. established a large ranch and orchard in the area during the mid-1800s. Over time, the land transitioned from farmland to suburban development, and in 1970, the Toys "R" Us chain built its Sunnyvale store right on top of that historic ground.

    Almost immediately after opening, staff noticed odd things happening after hours or in quiet moments:

  • Toys would fall off shelves by themselves.
  • Balls would bounce down empty aisles.
  • Faucets in the bathrooms (especially the women's) would turn on and off without anyone nearby.
  • Cold spots would appear suddenly.
  • Some people reported feeling phantom touches or hearing whispers, including their own names called in empty rooms.
  • Shelves occasionally seemed to rearrange themselves overnight, or noisy toys would activate on their own.

    Female employees sometimes felt particularly uneasy, with reports of disembodied voices and an overall sense of being watched.

Enter the Psychic and the Legend of Johnny Johnson

    The haunting gained national attention in the late 1970s and early 1980s thanks to psychic Sylvia Browne. During investigations (including a televised séance), Browne claimed to communicate with the spirit responsible: a man she identified as Johnny (or Yonny/John/ Johann) Johnson, possibly a Swedish or European farmhand/preacher who had worked on the Murphy ranch in the 1880s.

    According to Browne and the lore that developed:

  • Johnson fell deeply in love with Elizabeth (sometimes called Lizzie or Beth), one of Martin Murphy's daughters.
  • His affection was unrequited; Elizabeth married someone else (accounts vary between a local match or an East Coast lawyer).
  • Heartbroken and distracted, Johnson had a tragic accident while chopping wood—one version says an axe slipped and gouged his leg deeply. He bled out slowly, alone on the property, with his last thoughts reportedly of his lost love.
  • Unable to move on, his ghost remained tied to the land, now wandering the toy store aisles in search of Elizabeth.

    Some versions describe him as playful rather than menacing—knocking over toys as if playing, or lingering near dolls and balls. The ghost was said to favor certain aisles, and one infrared photo taken during Browne's investigation showed a tall, shadowy male figure leaning casually against shelves where no living person stood. The image became iconic, though skeptics pointed out it could be explained by lighting, film quirks, or even a living person who wasn't noticed at the time.

    The story appeared on shows like ABC's That's Incredible! (around 1980–1981) and later on Haunted Lives: True Ghost Stories in 1991 (narrated by Leonard Nimoy). These segments helped cement the Sunnyvale Toys "R" Us as a paranormal landmark.

Skepticism and Historical Scrutiny

    Not everyone bought the tale. Historical records paint a murkier picture:

  • Elizabeth Murphy (often referred to as Lizzie) did exist and married William Taaffe, but she died young in 1875—years before the alleged 1880s timeline for Johnson's accident and romance.
  • No clear census or property records confirm a "Johnny Johnson" (or similar variations) matching the description working on the Murphy land.
  • Some researchers suggest the ghost story may have been amplified for publicity, or that it blended elements of real accidents on the old ranch with creative psychic interpretation. Sylvia Browne's track record on other claims has also faced significant criticism over the years.

    Even so, many former employees and locals swear by their experiences. Some described quitting after unsettling overnight shifts, while others treated the ghost like a quirky coworker. The store leaned into the fame gently—it drew curious visitors, including ghost hunters and teenagers, without fully embracing it as a marketing gimmick.

The Afterlife of the Haunting

    The Sunnyvale Toys "R" Us operated for decades before closing in 2018 as part of the chain's broader decline. The building didn't stay empty for long. It was later repurposed—most notably becoming an REI store (and at times hosting pop-ups like Spirit Halloween). Reports of activity have quieted in recent years, but the legend persists. Some wonder if the ghost simply moved on with the toys, or if he's still there, now surrounded by camping gear instead of GI Joes.

    Today, the story lives on in podcasts, YouTube videos, Reddit threads, and local Bay Area folklore. It captures something uniquely American: the collision of childhood innocence, commercial hustle, and lingering history. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the tale of the Sunnyvale Toys "R" Us reminds us that every place has layers—some built with concrete and shelves, others with memory, tragedy, and a touch of the unexplained.

    If you're ever in Sunnyvale, swing by the old address. Browse the aisles, listen for a rogue ball bouncing, or feel a sudden chill. Who knows? Johnny might still be looking for Elizabeth... or maybe just enjoying one last game with the toys.

Sources:

Dowd, Katie. “Bay Area’s Infamous Haunted Toys R Us Finally Gets New Life as REI.” SFGate, 28 Apr. 2021, www.sfgate.com/local/article/2021-04-haunted-toys-r-us-sunnyvale-ghosts-16135968.php. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

“Haunted Lives: True Ghost Stories – Ghosts R Us/Legend of Kate Morgan/School Spirit.” IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt0297937/. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

Kqed Arts Staff. “Remembering Sunnyvale’s Haunted Toys R Us.” KQED, 29 May 2025, www.kqed.org/arts/13976828/haunted-toys-r-us-sunnyvale-yonny-johnson-murphy-ranch-doll. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

Mental Floss Staff. “The Haunted California Toys ‘R’ Us That Hosted a Séance.” Mental Floss, 22 Oct. 2021, www.mentalfloss.com/article/651670/haunted-toys-r-us. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

O’Brien, Putt-Putt, et al. “Haunted Toys ‘R’ Us.” Snopes, 29 Oct. 1998, www.snopes.com/fact-check/haunted-toys-r-us/. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

Paranormal Pop Culture. “Haunted Toy Store from ‘That’s Incredible’ Still Incredible?” Paranormal Pop Culture, 2012, www.paranormalpopculture.com/2012/01/is-haunted-toys-r-us-from-thats.html. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

“The Sunnyvale Toys R Us That Was Haunted.” Reddit, r/bayarea, 2024, www.reddit.com/r/bayarea/comments/1c1wy37/the_sunnyvale_toys_r_us_that_was_haunted/. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

“That’s Incredible! – Haunted Toys ‘R’ Us Segment.” YouTube, uploaded by various archival channels, www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUaORxJTdow (and related clips). Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

Weird California. “Toys R Us – Sunnyvale.” WeirdCA, 5 Dec. 2013, www.weirdca.com/location.php?location=219. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.


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