Cragun’s Resort, Golf & Conference near Brainerd—family-owned since 1940—is now under contract with a regional investment group led by veteran resort–management specialist and Brainerd Lakes resident, Jamie Tatge. Cragun’s is the third–largest resort in Minnesota.
“We are incredibly honored and humbled to carry the legacy and excellence of this legendary property, which has produced nearly a century of memories for so many Minnesotans,” says Jamie Tatge, president of Leisure Hotels & Resorts of Baxter, in a prepared statement.
While terms of the sale have not been disclosed, it is assumed to be the largest resort transaction in Minnesota history.
Dutch Cragun, now 93 years old, and his late wife Irma ran Cragun’s Resort for the majority of its existence, taking over from Dutch Cragun’s parents, who bought the property, which was not a promising venture at the time of purchase. “It was a big hill that sloped down to a marsh. It was a swamp–a gamble,” Dutch Cragun says.
The purchase just after the Great Depression was indeed a gamble. Dutch Cragun recalls his dad hiring area families to build the cabins. He says the crews were just celebrating the completion of the eighth family cabin when the attack on Pearl Harbor was announced. “One by one, the men helping build the cabins were drafted,” Dutch Cragun recalls.
Over the years, building continued with upgrades that allowed Cragun’s Resort to stand out. “The first thing I did when I took over the property from my parents was put hot water heaters in each cabin,” Cragun says. “We also put a heated swimming pool in. Then guests from the competition really started coming to Cragun’s Resort.”
From rustic cabins to hot water to a heated pool, Cragun’s amenities continued to expand, with year-round occupancy starting in 1978. More recently, in 2015, construction began on a $25 million remodel and expansion with upgrades to lobby areas, hotel rooms, cabins, golf courses, and the marina. The resort now offers 206 lodge-style rooms, 55 cabins ranging from one to seven bedrooms, and seven homes on the golf course. Guests also enjoy five dining options, three golf courses, and more than 400 employees who create an experience for those who visit the resort.
“For generations, Cragun’s Resort has been a place for families, traditions, and making memories,” says Eric Peterson, general manager and development director of Cragun’s Resort. “Dutch and Irma’s vision shaped this lakeside destination, so it’s important this transaction not only marks a new chapter in the amazing legacy of Cragun’s Resort but ensures its generations of memories continue to create just that: more generations of memories! Our current resort team looks forward to working with the new ownership group to continue providing the amazing hospitality that has set Cragun’s Resort apart from our competitors.”
It’s a legacy that reaches well past Minnesota as the golfing amenities at Cragun’s, for example, draw players from all over the country. “This transaction also includes the newly renovated 54-hole Cragun’s Legacy Courses, which provides a world-class golf experience and is the home of the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center Championship, a PGA Tour Americas Event,” notes Peterson.
Recreation is a priority at Cragun’s, which boasts seven pontoons, four speedboats, Jet Skis, stand-up paddleboards, rowboats, canoes, bicycles, and 12 new snowmobiles. The resort also owns Gull Lake Cruises, a 120-passenger luxury yacht that docks at Cragun’s and offers both public and private cruises from May through October.
Balancing out its offerings for play and work, Cragun’s is noted as a go-to for corporate gatherings with more than 50,000 square feet of meeting spaces, including its largest, the Tamarack Event Center, clocking in at nearly 15,000 square feet.
The sale is expected to be finalized before the start of the summer season.
