Location Guide
East Gull Lake Prestigious Gull Lake Living
East Gull Lake is a small, prestigious community on the shores of Gull Lake, known for its resort amenities, excellent shoreline, and strong property values. It is one of the most sought-after addresses in the Brainerd Lakes Area.
East Gull Lake at a Glance
County
Crow Wing County
Community
986 (2020 census)
From Brainerd
About 12 miles north, roughly 15 to 20 minutes
From the Twin Cities
About 135 miles, roughly 2.5 hours
Schools
Brainerd Public Schools (ISD 181)
About East Gull Lake
East Gull Lake sits on the southeastern shore of Gull Lake, one of Minnesota's most desirable lakes, and it is the quiet, exclusive side of the Gull chain. The community is small and residential, with resort neighbors Cragun's and Madden's on the water and the Brainerd International Raceway in the woods nearby.
Gull Lake combines big-water recreation with excellent water quality, and East Gull Lake's shoreline includes some of the lake's best frontage. The Gull Lake Recreation Area, operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, adds public beaches and trails, while the chain layout, with Gull Lake connected to the wider Gull chain by its dam and channels, keeps the whole system accessible.
Key Facts
The essentials that shape daily life, the housing market, and the resale picture in this community.
Prestigious community on Gull Lake
Resort amenities and dining
Excellent shoreline and water quality
Strong property values
Year-round and seasonal residences
The Water
East Gull Lake offers a premium lake experience. The community is centered around resort-style living, with dining, golf, and social activities that create a sense of belonging. Property values are strong, driven by the desirability of the location and the quality of the shoreline.
Lakes and Waterways
Life Here Year-Round
Gull Lake's roughly 9,900 acres stay active all year. Summer brings boating, swimming beaches, and the resort scene at Cragun's and Madden's; winter brings ice fishing, the Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza, and a loyal year-round shoreline community. The Gull Lake Recreation Area provides public beaches and trails, and the Gull Lake dam manages water levels for shoreline owners.
Buying in East Gull Lake
What buyers should understand before buying or selling in this community, and how it fits the bigger lake-market picture.
Compare Other CommunitiesGull Lake property is the premier asset in the Brainerd Lakes Area, and East Gull Lake shoreline is among its most desirable.
Values are driven by shoreline quality, frontage, elevation, and sunset exposure, more than the house itself.
Year-round and seasonal homes mix, with resort amenities, dining, and golf minutes away.
Expect premium pricing: the strongest Gull Lake frontage regularly trades in the millions.
Questions Buyers Ask About East Gull Lake
What is East Gull Lake known for?
A prestigious, quiet shoreline community on the south shore of Gull Lake, surrounded by the Cragun's and Madden's resort campuses, the Gull Lake Recreation Area, and some of the region's strongest lake-home values.
Is Gull Lake good for year-round living?
Yes. The shoreline community is active all year, with ice fishing, the Jaycees Extravaganza on the ice, and Brainerd's services 15 to 20 minutes away, plus the airport and hospital nearby.
What drives Gull Lake values?
Shoreline quality, frontage, elevation, exposure, and the lake's reputation. Gull Lake and its chain are among the few Minnesota waters that have held and grown value across every market cycle.
How far is East Gull Lake from Brainerd?
About 12 miles, roughly 15 to 20 minutes, with the Twin Cities about 2.5 hours away.
Life Around East Gull Lake
Gull Lake
Roughly 9,900 acres of big-water boating, beaches, and fishing.
Cragun's and Madden's
The resort campuses that anchor Gull Lake's hospitality heritage.
Gull Lake Recreation Area
Public beaches, parks, and trails maintained by the Corps of Engineers.
Brainerd International Raceway
Motorsports minutes from the lake.
From East Gull Lake
Community Insights
September 2026
East Gull Lake: Gull Chain Water, Public Recreation, and the Raceway Next Door
Gull Lake's best water, a public recreation area with a beach and campgrounds, and the Brainerd International Raceway up the road. What the mix means for buyers here.
Read the ArticleSeptember 2026
East Gull Lake's Golf and Resort Life: Cragun's, Madden's, and the Gull Chain
Golf and resort amenities define East Gull Lake. From Cragun's Legacy Courses to Madden's on Gull, the community's social life revolves around the water and the fairways.
Read the ArticleSeptember 2026
East Gull Lake by the Numbers: What Living on Gull Lake Shoreline Is Really Like
East Gull Lake is a small, rural community where Gull Lake shoreline dominates the market. Home values, planned communities, and what residents actually get for the price.
Read the ArticleSeptember 2026
Gull Lake's South Shore Is Getting a New Luxury Community: What Waterside Estates Could Mean
A proposed community could add dozens of new lake homes to Gull Lake's south shore near East Gull Lake. Here is what the development signals about the area's market and its character.
Read the ArticleSeptember 2026
Gull Lake Fishing: What's In the Water and When to Find It
Gull Lake is one of Minnesota's most consistent walleye lakes. A practical guide to the fish, the seasons, and angling on the region's signature water.
Read the ArticleSeptember 2026
The Dam That Sets Gull Lake's Level: What Shoreline Owners Should Know
Gull Lake's water level is managed by a 1912 Corps of Engineers dam at the outlet. How the dam works, why the level stays steady, and what it means for shoreline owners.
Read the ArticleSeptember 2026
How Gull Lake Stays Clean: Water Quality Is Everyone's Job
Volunteer water sampling, boat-launch invasive-species checks, shoreline tree giveaways, and the Lake Steward program protect Gull Lake. Here is what buyers should know.
Read the ArticleSeptember 2026
A New Chapter at Gull Lake's Resorts: Cragun's and Madden's
Cragun's sold in 2025 to new owners who rebuilt the Legacy nine and added South Beach Cabins, while Madden's celebrates its Pine Beach East centennial in August 2026.
Read the ArticleSeptember 2026
Hope on the Slopes: The New Winter Fundraiser at Mount Ski Gull
Teams race mattresses down the tubing hill at Mount Ski Gull to raise money for Bridges of Hope. The inaugural event drew 27 teams in February 2026 near East Gull Lake.
Read the ArticleSeptember 2026
Octane Autofest: BIR's New Motorsports Festival at East Gull Lake
Brainerd International Raceway launched Octane Autofest in June 2026, drawing nearly 15,000 guests from 41 states and five countries. Here is what it means for the community.
Read the ArticleOctober 2026
The NHRA Brainerd Nationals: BIR's Big August Weekend
The 44th annual NHRA Brainerd Nationals runs August 20-23, 2026, at Brainerd International Raceway near East Gull Lake. Here is what race week means for the area.
Read the ArticleOctober 2026
The Gull River Crossing: East Gull Lake's New Highway 70 Route
East Gull Lake's new Highway 70 segment, the Gull River Crossing, opened in June 2025 with a new bridge and roundabouts.
Read the ArticleOctober 2026
Pickleball Is Coming to East Gull Lake: Courts Proposed at the City Park
East Gull Lake discussed a $301,000 plan for 10 pickleball courts and one tennis court at a new site in June 2026. What the proposal means for the community.
Read the ArticleOctober 2026
East Gull Lake Weighs Housing on the Legacy Resort Land
East Gull Lake's council tabled three July 2026 rezoning requests that would shift part of the former Cragun's Legacy golf course land from recreation to residential.
Read the ArticleOctober 2026
Can You Land a Helicopter at Your Lake Home? The East Gull Lake Case
A judge barred a Gull Lake owner from landing and storing a helicopter on his Scenic Drive property in March 2026. Here is what the ruling means for lakeshore owners.
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