Mark Twain Hobby Center Turns 50: A St. Louis Hobby Shop Celebration with BIGFOOT #8
A longtime local customer summarizes the store’s 50th birthday event, who showed up, and why a brick-and-mortar hobby shop still matters to hobbyists.
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Mark Twain Hobby Center celebrated its 50th anniversary with a large turnout and manufacturer presence, including Traxxas and Horizon Hobby.
BIGFOOT #8, a historically significant monster truck, was a centerpiece at the celebration.
What happened
Mark Twain Hobby Center, a longstanding hobby shop in the St. Louis area, held a 50th birthday celebration over a recent weekend. The event drew a large crowd and featured several manufacturers and hobby companies in attendance. Traxxas and Horizon Hobby had a visible presence, and the day included plenty of RC activity for attendees.
A standout attraction: BIGFOOT #8
A major draw at the party was BIGFOOT #8 parked outside the shop. The author describes BIGFOOT #8 as one of the most historically significant trucks in the BIGFOOT fleet and a memorable centerpiece for a hobby-shop birthday.
Why the milestone matters locally
The author, who identifies as a longtime customer, says his first trip to Mark Twain was around 1994. He lists the kinds of items he's bought there over the years—RC gear, plastic models, paints—and frames the store as more than a retail outlet. For him, Mark Twain functions as a place to discover new projects, see new products on the shelf, and get into conversations with employees and fellow hobbyists.
The author observes that the hobby industry has changed over the last 50 years—products, technology, and buying patterns have shifted—but the local hobby shop remains. He presents the store as a continuity point: a place where people walk in for a single item and leave with a new project, and where generations of hobbyists have been introduced to their interests.
Who showed up
- Manufacturer presence: Traxxas and Horizon Hobby were specifically mentioned as having booths or displays. The event included other hobby companies and general RC activity.
- Community turnout: The party drew a big crowd throughout the day, signaling local support.
- Special display: BIGFOOT #8 offered a visible, nostalgic attraction for monster-truck fans.
What this means for hobby shoppers
The author frames Mark Twain as an example of why brick-and-mortar hobby shops still matter. The store enables tactile discovery—seeing new items on shelves and finding unexpected projects—and in-person interactions that online shopping doesn't provide. For the author, those everyday experiences are why he values having several good local hobby shops available.
The piece closes with congratulations to Mark Twain Hobby Center on reaching 50 years and a wish for many more birthdays. The author signs off with a light line for RC fans: "keep it on all 4's."
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