Near Crow Wing in Crow Wing County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Paul Bunyan Statue
Photographed by McGhiever, June 28, 2025
1. Paul Bunyan Statue Marker
This Paul Bunyan statue is dedicated in loving memory of Merrill K. and Louise Cragun, founders of Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake, Brainerd, by their son, Dutch (Merrill Jr.) and his wife Irma, in May 2005.
A Legend Shared - Cragun's and Paul Bunyan
In August, 1933, Merrill Cragun and W.J. (Jack) Madden created Paul Bunyan's Playground, Inc. (later changed to Paul Bunyan Inc.) to promote tourism throughout Minnesota. From 1933-1938, Merrill Cragun, as executive secretary, and his wife, Louise, made many calls on Chambers of Commerce and resort owners. The Brainerd Chamber of Commerce was the first to join the association and established Brainerd as the capital of Paul Bunyan's Playground.
Hickerson Garment Factory developed Paul's red and black Bunyan jacket; postcards, booklets of Paul Bunyan yarns, and a Paul Bunyan game were printed at Cragun's printing shop in St. Paul.
Merrill Cragun, Sr. sponsored many resorts at Sports Shows and several products were developed to support the Paul Bunyan legend including Paul Bunyan potatoes, maple sugar and syrup, hams and bacon, pancake flour, jams, jellies, and even a
this page online
In 1939, the Craguns purchased and commenced building the eight cottages of Cragun's Resort, opening in 1941. In 1942, Merrill Cragun formed the Minnesota Resort Association. During the war, Louise ran the newly opened resort. Post war, Merrill led the adoption of 10,000 lakes to the Minnesota license plate, was instrumental in forming the UPS foodshows, was director of the 1949 Minnesota Territorial Centennial, and became the director of Continuing Education at the University of Minnesota. Professor Cragun remained deeply involved in the operation of Cragun's during his career, and until his death in 1986. Louise continued to document the development of Paul and Babe, the growth of Minnesota tourism, and Cragun's Resort, submitting her stories and experiences to the Minnesota Historical Society. Louise died in Brainerd in 2006 at age 96.
Creator of the Paul Bunyan statue, Josh Porter of Avalon Studios in Merrifield, and Dutch and Irma Cragun,
Photographed by McGhiever, June 28, 2025
2. Paul Bunyan Statue and Marker at the Brainerd Lakes Welcome Center
Louise and Merrill K. Cragun, founders of Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake
About Paul Bunyan:
The Paul Bunyan statue began as a 15 inch prototype sculpted out of clay. The finished statue is 11 1/2 feet from the top of his waving hand, and weighs about 900 pounds. With touches like rolled up sleeves, Paul looks like he just sat down for a break, waving to a few friends - welcoming visitors to the Brainerd Lakes Area.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1933.
Location. 46° 15.621′ N, 94° 19.155′ W. Marker is near Crow Wing, Minnesota, in Crow Wing County. It can be reached from the intersection of N. Koering Road and Minnesota Highway 371. The marker is at the Explore Brainerd Lakes Welcome Center and Rest Area. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7053 N Koering Road, Brainerd MN 56401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Minnesota’s Northland. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lumberjack Legend (a few steps from this marker); Ojibwe Origins (a few steps from this marker); Roughnecks and River Pigs (a few steps from this marker); Land in the Middle (a few steps from this marker); Lakes on the Plains (a few steps from this marker); Hunting Hospitality (a few steps from this marker); Entrepreneurs and Upstarts (within shouting distance of this marker); Mississippi Crossings (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Crow Wing.
Also see . . . The Ultimate Paul Bunyan Road Trip Through Minnesota. (Submitted on July 11, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 251 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 11, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
