mAKing FriEnDS, FUn & mEmoriES FOR 71 YEARS

How Cragun’s Resort Keeps Guests Happy With Old World Hospitality

t was 1940 when Merrill Cragun, Sr. and his wife, Louise, opened their six-cabin housekeeping resort on the southern shore of Gull Lake, just 10 minutes north of Brainerd. They achieved their dream of providing a respite for the World War II generation. But they faced a challenge in their northwoods paradise. How would they compete with other area resorts in the beautiful Brainerd lakes area of north central Minnesota?

Merrill and Louise found the answer in providing an incomparable feeling of welcome to their guests. They created Cragun’s signature brand of warmth and hospitality that has become a northern tradition. It’s a tradition that has grown along with the resort over the past 71 years, carried on by second-generation owners Dutch and Irma Cragun.

Today, Cragun’s features 300 superior lodging choices, including rooms, family suites, and one- to five-bedroom cabins. All offer great views overlooking the lake or the huge indoor pool. It’s estimated that more than three million guests have enjoyed Cragun’s Resort since it opened.

The resort has made wonderful, lifelong memories for generations of guests. Such as Joelle from Maple Grove, MN…

“We stayed at Cragun’s for the first time last August and had the best time ever!...Boy did we hit the jackpot!...I think the best memory was golfing on the Legacy Par 3…It was a perfect …We hope to come back soon!”

Guests love that Cragun’s is a celebration of fun, food, and fond family vacation memories. There are simply more recreational possibilities at Cragun’s.

It starts with Cragun’s Legacy Courses, named “Minnesota’s #1 Resort Course.”

Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the 18-hole championship Dutch Legacy was rated 5 Stars by Golf Digest. The 18-hole championship Bobby’s Legacy was rated 4.5 Stars by Golf Digest. And the Reversible Legacy Par 3 is fun for the entire family.

There’s fishing, boating and water skiing from Cragun’s complete marina with rentals. Guests can swim on one of the spectacular sandy beaches, or in Cragun’s indoor and outdoor pools. There’s an awardwinning Camp Cragun’s kids program and a 22,000 sq. ft. indoor Sports Centre. Guests can also enjoy beautiful biking, hiking, and nature trails or a unique horse drawn trolley ride along the lakefront.

Cragun’s offers the complete array of winter activities, too. Venture out snowmobiling, ice fishing, X-C and downhill skiing, warm up at a bonfire with hot chocolate after a horse drawn trolley ride, or go dog sledding. Cragun’s rents all the gear.

Resort guests Tammy and family from Thief River Falls, MN had a winter blast…

“All our memories from Cragun’s vacations are fantastic! [Our kids] swim, splash and squeal and just have a blast!...We love how Cragun’s feels like home…and we always feel welcome…We can’t wait for our next vacation to you!”

Great food is part of Cragun’s fun. Five unique dining experiences start with their famous poolside “Welcome Party” and dinner buffet. Delicious dining is found lakeside to poolside to course-side, at such facilities as Cragun’s Main Dining Room, the Hungry Gull, and the Legacy Grille.

Cragun’s invites guests to discover their secret to making vacation friends and memories for 71 years. It simply comes down to giving guests that welcome home feeling.

For reservations information, visit http://craguns.com/?phonalytics=8es, or call 877.295.8282.