About the Company
Licensed Indiana Auctioneer & Full-Service Auction Company
Burgess Auctions LLC is a licensed Indiana auctioneer and auction company based in Knightstown, Indiana, founded in 1996 by Smoky Burgess and led today by principal auctioneer Zack Burgess, CAI, AMM. The company holds Indiana Auctioneer License AU19600029 and an active FFL dealer license, and conducts dozens of auctions annually throughout Central Indiana including Hamilton, Marion, Hancock, Madison, Henry, Shelby, Rush, Boone, Wayne, Fayette, and Decatur counties.
From estate liquidations and real estate auctions to FFL-licensed firearms consignment and high-value specialty collections — Burgess Auctions handles the full lifecycle of an asset, from assessment through settlement, with the personal care of a family business and the credentials of a 30-year professional.
Our Story
The Burgess Auctions Story
In December 1995, Smoky Burgess sent his son Zack to the Reppert School of Auctioneering. It was a gift, a vote of confidence, and the beginning of a career. Zack received his Indiana Auctioneer License on February 14, 1996 — and Burgess Auctions LLC was born.
Smoky had deep roots in Central Indiana. Zack grew up in Hamilton County, fished Fall Creek and Geist Reservoir, worked his first job at the Indiana Gun Club, and came up through 4-H and FFA at Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville — where FFA advisor Dick Allen gave him his first real experience speaking in front of a crowd. That foundation of community, credibility, and public trust became the backbone of the business.
After auction school, Zack apprenticed under established Hamilton County auctioneers in Sheridan, Cicero, and Noblesville — learning the craft the right way, in the ring, from experienced professionals. He later operated a gallery in Noblesville before establishing Burgess Auctions LLC in its current structure in 2015, headquartered in Knightstown, Indiana.
Smoky passed away, but his name lives on. Zack's brother Jake operates FoxGardin Restaurant Group in Central Indiana — and one of their restaurants carries Smoky's name in his memory. At Burgess Auctions, his legacy lives in every sale.
Today, Burgess Auctions is a family-operated business. Zack and his wife Vivian are the heart of the operation — a family business in every sense of the word — running dozens of auctions annually across Central Indiana, handling estates, real estate, firearms, coins, collectibles, and commercial liquidations with the same personal care the business was founded on.
Principal Auctioneer
Zack Burgess, CAI, AMM
Zack Burgess has been a licensed Indiana auctioneer since February 14, 1996 — celebrating 30 years in the profession in 2026. He holds the Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI) designation, the Auction Marketing Management (AMM) certification, and an active FFL dealer license. He is a member of the National Auctioneers Association and the Indiana Auctioneers Association.
Career highlights include conducting the Mari Hulman George Estate Auction — covered by 11 media outlets — earning the CAI designation, and building one of Central Indiana's most active independent auction operations over three decades.
- Indiana Auctioneer License AU19600029 — Since Feb. 14, 1996
- CAI Designation Certified Auctioneers Institute — NAA
- AMM Certification Auction Marketing Management
- FFL Dealer License Knightstown & Carthage Facilities
- Real Estate Partnership Jason Snider, J. Snider Real Estate, RB14045952
- Education Reppert School of Auctioneering, December 1995
What We Do
Comprehensive Auction & Asset Disposition Services
Burgess Auctions LLC provides full-service auction and asset disposition throughout Central Indiana. Our services go beyond the auction ring — we handle the full lifecycle of an asset from assessment through settlement.
Estate Liquidation
Complete household and estate sales — antiques, furniture, tools, jewelry, collectibles, and personal property of all types.
Learn more →Real Estate Auctions
Residential, farm, commercial, and land auctions. Defined closing dates, competitive bidding, zero seller commission.
Learn more →Firearms Consignment
FFL-licensed. Handguns, rifles, shotguns, antique and curio firearms. Secure storage, full legal compliance, nationwide buyer reach.
Learn more →Commercial Liquidation
Business closures, equipment, inventory, coins & currency, aviation memorabilia, and high-value specialty collections.
Contact us →Personal Property Appraisals
Professional appraisal documentation for estate matters, insurance, dissolution proceedings, and asset valuation.
Request appraisal →Storage & Logistics
Short and long-term storage at our Knightstown facility. Warehouses, showrooms, galleries, and outdoor storage for vehicles and equipment.
Ask us →Who We Serve
Clients We Work With
Burgess Auctions works with a broad range of clients across Central Indiana — from individual families to institutional creditors. Every client receives the same personal attention and custom auction strategy.
Where We Work
Serving Central Indiana & Surrounding Areas
Burgess Auctions serves sellers throughout Central Indiana including Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Anderson, Muncie, New Castle, Greenfield, and surrounding communities. Our facilities are headquartered in Knightstown, Indiana — 30 minutes east of Indianapolis — with a secondary FFL-licensed facility in Carthage, Indiana.
We have deep local roots and documented auction experience across:
We regularly serve clients in Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Anderson, Muncie, New Castle, Greenfield, and surrounding communities throughout Indiana.
Our Facilities
Knightstown — Primary Facility
Headquarters • US-40 East of IndianapolisWarehouses, showrooms, galleries, and outdoor storage for vehicles and equipment. Live simulcast auction capability. Short and long-term storage available. Spans nearly half a city block — one of Central Indiana's premier independent auction facilities.
Carthage — FFL Facility
FFL-Licensed • Firearms OnlySecondary FFL-licensed facility for firearms intake, secure storage, and transfer processing. Full legal compliance for all firearm types including handguns, rifles, shotguns, and antique and curio firearms.
Professional Affiliations
Memberships & Professional Organizations
Burgess Auctions and its principals maintain active membership in the leading professional organizations in the auction and real estate industries.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions families, attorneys, and executors ask most often about working with Burgess Auctions.
Zack Burgess, CAI, AMM is the principal auctioneer and owner of Burgess Auctions LLC. He has held Indiana Auctioneer License AU19600029 since February 14, 1996 — giving him 30 years of licensed auctioneering experience as of 2026. He holds the Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI) designation — one of the highest professional credentials in the auction industry — and Auction Marketing Management (AMM) certification from the National Auctioneers Association.