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Kirsti Marohn
Brainerd, Minn.

Judge bars property owner from landing helicopter at his Gull Lake home after lengthy legal dispute

helicopter in front of a house
A photo submitted in a court document in November 2024 by the city of East Gull Lake reportedly shows a helicopter at a home owned by Doug Schieffer. Schieffer sued the city over his right to take off and land the helicopter from his property.
Courtesy of Cass County District Court

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A judge in Cass County has ordered a Twin Cities man to stop taking off and landing his private helicopter at his Gull Lake property.

Doug Schieffer is CEO of a concrete company and owns a multi-million-dollar home on Gull Lake’s Steamboat Bay, northwest of Brainerd. He told MPR News in 2024 that flying is his passion, and he uses his helicopter to save travel time between his Twin Cities-area home and his lake place.

But Schieffer has had a yearslong dispute with the city of East Gull Lake over whether he can take off, land and store his helicopter on his property. The city says that under its zoning ordinances, those activities constitute an “airport” and aren’t permitted in residential areas.

Schieffer originally proposed building a private helipad on the property, which he said would have been on the other side of the house and out of view. The city rejected the proposal to allow private helipads. Neighboring residents voiced concerns about noise, safety and environmental impacts.

Schieffer’s attorney, Nathan Sellers, told MPR News in 2024 that Schieffer was taking off and landing the helicopter on a barge floating on the lake next to his property, which the city doesn’t regulate. Sellers compared it to seaplanes that frequently take off and land on Gull Lake throughout the summer.

In February 2024, city officials issued Schieffer a violation, which he appealed. The city’s board of adjustment twice denied the appeal. The Minnesota Department of Transportation also issued Schieffer a cease-and-desist order.

Schieffer filed a lawsuit against the city in November 2024, arguing he’s not violating any city codes. The city countersued, asking the court to order Schieffer to stop defying the ordinance, but the court denied the request.

In December, the city of East Gull Lake again asked the court to prohibit Schieffer from using the property as an airport. The city submitted multiple statements from people who said they saw Schieffer taking off and landing the helicopter on the property in the past two years. Many included photos or video.

In a March 29 order, Cass County District Court Judge Jana Austad sided with the city, and ordered Schieffer to stop landing, taking off or storing the helicopter on the property.

In a statement, Jason Kuboushek, an attorney representing East Gull Lake, said the city is pleased with the decision. He said throughout the enforcement process, the city has taken a close look at Schieffer’s actions and compared them to what’s allowed.

“The court recognized the city correctly interpreted its ordinances,” Kuboushek stated. He said city officials are hopeful Schieffer will comply with the order.

In an email to MPR News, Schieffer said he’s not giving up.

“The plan is to appeal and in the meantime I will utilize the barge on the water,” Schieffer wrote. “Not what I wanted to do but it’s a viable option.”

Schieffer’s legal battle generated headlines worldwide. Critics panned him as a wealthy tycoon who thinks he should get to do whatever he wants. Schieffer told MPR News in December 2024 that people need to understand the whole story before they judge.

“I’m fighting to do this in the least intrusive manner,” he said then. “But yet, being a very passionate person and believing in property rights, I don’t just quit.”