The Branson Auction, one of the biggest and best automobile auctions in the country, has been a fixture in Branson for 45 years. Twice each year - in the spring and fall - car collectors and enthusiasts converge on Branson for the exciting event, in hopes of adding that special vehicle to their collection.
The Branson Auction was founded in the early 1980s by Mark Trimble and purchased by Jim Cox in 1988. It has been a popular event for those shopping for hobby or business ever since.
The October 2024 auction did not disappoint, with more than 230 vehicles on the auction block - from classics to muscle cars to motorcycles, and more - the Branson Auction offered something for everyone. Spirits were high and the bidding was often very competitive on both days of the auction.
On the evening prior to the opening day of the auction, the Branson Auction hosted a special charity auction, with proceeds benefiting the Taney County 100 Club, an organization designed to provide financial assistance to the surviving spouse of a police officer, firefighter or first responder killed or critically injured in the line of duty.
Additionally, a 2002 Ford GT 40 was auctioned off with proceeds split between three Veterans organizations.
The biggest news of the Fall 2024 Branson Auction was the announcement of the auction's new owners. Roger and Mary Napper purchased The Branson Auction from Jim and Kathy Cox.
The Nappers have a long history in the business of vehicles.
"We have owned a car dealership in Lebanon, MO, for 40 years," explained Roger. "We bought a place here nine years ago and would stay occasionally, when we could, and have loved the Branson area since we were married 40 years ago. We even honeymooned in Branson. We made the decision to move here, and in October 2023, we made it our permanent residence."
"When Jim found out we had moved here, he wanted to have a meeting with us and we discussed the purchase at that point. He wanted ownership to stay local. We have been coming to this auction, buying and selling, for over 30 years. We have attended each location the sale has been at since that time, starting with the White Water parking lot, in a tent. We helped operate the April 2024 auction and became owners in August 2024.
Roger and Mary Napper are the parents of three children - Kimberly Bailey and husband Nick, of Charlotte, NC; Joshua Napper and his fiancé Shelby of Branson; and son Jared, who sadly passed away in March of this year in an automobile accident. They are grandparents to three - Luke, Zoe and Bentley.
Roger and Mary are excited about their new venture and look forward to working with the Branson Auction’s large customer base, but also the City of Branson, as they help boost tourism during each April and October auction.
Taney County 100 Club benefits –
A traditional part of the Branson Auction is the charity auction, held on the Thursday night, prior to the Branson Auction's Friday sale. For the past several years, proceeds from the auction have benefited the Taney County 100 Club, an organization with a mission to provide financial support to the surviving spouse of an emergency service worker killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty, within hours of the death or injury.
This fall's charity auction featured a variety of show and attraction tickets, gift baskets, a $100 gift certificate towards a Caribbean vacation, a ride-along with a Branson Police Department K-9 unit, collectibles and more. The auction's highlight was a 2008 Mercedes Benz.
In addition to the live auction, the Taney County 100 maintained a booth at the Branson Auction event, where they sold merchandise, offered memberships and raffled off a gun.
This year's charity auction was a huge success, according to the Taney County 100 Club's Cory Roebuck.
"In total, we made over $14,000 from the event," noted Roebuck.
Tim Eschavarria from Oklahoma was the high bidder on the Mercedes Benz. Joe Kelch of Illinois won the raffle of the gun at the Taney County 100 Club booth.
Roebuck expressed his thanks to the owners - both past and current - of the Branson Auction, saying, "We are eternally grateful for the generosity of Jim and Kathy Cox. They were our first lifetime members and will continue to be a part of our organization for years to come. We look forward to working with Roger and Mary to support
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