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Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock

3.0 star property
your current months are February, 2025 and March, 2025.
February 2025
March 2025

Photo gallery for Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock

Front of property
Mini-golf
Luxury Cabin, 3 Bedrooms | Living area
Indoor pool, open 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, lifeguards on site
Reception

Reviews

7.4 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Breakfast available
  • Bar
  • Pool
  • Gym
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
2643 IL-178, Utica, IL, 61373
  • Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Starved Rock State Park
    ‪4 min walk‬
  • Matthiessen State Park
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Peru, IL (VYS-Illinois Valley Regional)
    ‪17 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Hot Tub

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Hot Tub

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Hot Tub

  • 37 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Family Suite with Balcony, 2 Queen Beds with Sofa Bed

Iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

Family Suite with Balcony, 2 Queen Beds with Sofa Bed

  • 37 sq m
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Family Suite with Balcony, 2 Queen Beds with Sofa Bed

Iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

Family Suite with Balcony, 2 Queen Beds with Sofa Bed

  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Villa, 2 Bedrooms

Iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

Villa, 2 Bedrooms

  • 167 sq m
  • Sleeps 9
  • 1 King Bed, 1 Twin Sofa Bed, 2 Queen Beds and 1 Queen Sofa Bed

View all photos for Luxury Cabin, 3 Bedrooms

Luxury Cabin, 3 Bedrooms

Luxury Cabin, 3 Bedrooms

  • 260 sq m
  • Sleeps 18
  • 1 King Bed, 1 Large Twin Sofa Bed, 2 Queen Beds, 2 Queen Bunk Beds, 2 Twin Bunk Beds and 1 Queen Sofa Bed

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About the area

Utica

Located in Utica, Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock is next to a golf course, a 4-minute walk from Starved Rock State Park and 12 minutes by foot from Matthiessen State Park. .This family-friendly hotel is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from Illinois River Winery and 1.5 mi (2.5 km) from Deer Park Country Club.

What's nearby

  • Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park - 1 min walk
  • Starved Rock State Park - 4 min walk
  • Matthiessen State Park - 12 min walk
  • Illinois River Winery - 3 min drive
  • LaSalle County Historical Society & Museum - 3 min drive

Getting around

  • Mendota Station - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The Rootbeer Stand - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Back Door Lounge - ‬6 min drive

About this property

Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock

Family-friendly hotel with free water park access and bars
Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock offers 92 accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Televisions come with cable channels.

Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access.

An indoor pool, a children's pool, and a spa tub are on site. Other recreational amenities include a complimentary water park, a lazy river, and a 24-hour fitness center.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

Make yourself at home in one of the 92 guestrooms. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as coffee/tea makers and irons/ironing boards.
Enjoy a range of recreational amenities, including a complimentary water park, an indoor pool, and a lazy river. This hotel also features complimentary wireless internet access, an arcade/game room, and gift shops/newsstands.
Grab dinner at Jack's Place, a restaurant that specializes in American cuisine. You can also grab snacks at the coffee shop/cafe. Relax with a refreshing drink at one of the 2 bars/lounges. Buffet breakfasts are served on weekends from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM for a fee.
Featured amenities include complimentary newspapers in the lobby, a 24-hour front desk, and ATM/banking services. Free self parking is available onsite.
Buffet breakfasts are available for a surcharge between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM on weekends.
Jack's Place - This family restaurant specializes in American cuisine and serves breakfast and dinner.
Treetops Cafe - This café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Open daily.
J.H. Higby's - Onsite bar. Open select days.
Bear Island - This bar overlooks the garden. Open select days.

Languages

English, Spanish

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and public transport

  • Free self-parking on site

Food and drink

  • Buffet breakfast available for a fee weekends 8:00 AM–11:00 AM: USD 15 for adults and USD 12.00 for children
  • 1 restaurant and 1 coffee shop/cafe
  • 2 bars/lounges

Restaurants on site

  • Jack's Place
  • Treetops Cafe
  • J.H. Higby's
  • Bear Island

Things to do

  • 24-hour fitness centre
  • Arcade/games room
  • Children's pool
  • Concerts/live shows
  • Free water park access
  • Indoor pool
  • Lifeguards on-site
  • Mini golf
  • Playground
  • Public winery tours
  • A hot tub
  • Volleyball
  • Wine-tasting room

Family friendly

  • Arcade/games room
  • Children's games
  • Children's pool
  • Free water park access
  • Indoor pool
  • Lazy river
  • Mini golf
  • Playground
  • Water slide

Conveniences

  • ATM/banking services
  • Lift
  • Free newspapers in reception
  • Gift shop/newsstand

Guest services

  • 24-hour front desk

Business services

  • Meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • Lifeguards on site
  • Picnic area

Accessibility

  • If you have any requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Lift
  • Wheelchair-accessible lounge
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible public bathroom
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk

More

  • Fireplace in reception
  • Games
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Bed sheets
  • Heating

Bathroom

  • Hairdryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower/bath combination
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels

Entertainment

  • 42-inch TV
  • TV channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Ice maker

More

  • Connecting rooms available
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in is available for a fee
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Renovations and closures

The following facilities are closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday:
  • Bar/lounge
  • Dining venue(s)
  • Indoor pool
  • Spa tub

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Deposit: USD 500 per accommodation, per stay
  • Service fee: 3 percent

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Fee for buffet breakfast: approximately USD 15 for adults and USD 12.00 for children
  • Early check-in is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted

We should mention

Pool access available from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation
Some facilities may have restricted access; guests can contact the property for details using the contact information on the booking confirmation

Property is also known as

Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort Utica
Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Utica
Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort Oglesby
Grizzly Jacks Grand Bear Hotel
Grizzly Jack`s Grand Bear Hotel Utica
Grizzly Jacks Grand Bear Resort
Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Oglesby
Grizzly Jack's Bear Oglesby
Bear At Starved Rock Utica
Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort
Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock Hotel
Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock Utica
Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock Hotel Utica

Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock Reviews

Reviews

7.4

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 233 out of 715 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 210 out of 715 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 129 out of 715 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 70 out of 715 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 73 out of 715 reviews" "

7.6/10

Cleanliness

7.8/10

Staff & service

7.2/10

Amenities

7.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

4/10 Poor

Elizabeth

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
No place to get a cup of coffee at the resort, not even in the room
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

2/10 Terrible

Lynn

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Not worth the money
The cable was not working properly so we had only a few channels some of the time. We had to ask for clean towels each day, sometimes more than once. It was advertised as having shampoo/soap/lotion. We had to ask for these items. The maintenance man who serves as the evening room service, offered for us to speak to a manager as our room was not set up as it should have been. Suddenly the manager had gone home, but I could speak with someone in the morning. In the morning that manager wasn't available but would call me. On our last day I asked why the manager hadn't called me and the rude lady at the front desk said they were too busy and would get with me sometime??!!! Still haven't heard from them, that was 2 weeks ago
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Catherine

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The resort itself could be so nice but maintenance items have obviously been ignored. Windows “repaired” with tape, for instance. The water park water was way too cold especially for children. This place needs to spend some $$$ to make this place nice. Also, they do not recycle which I found very disappointing.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Stephanie

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Or a good water park for kids older than 8
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Neal

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Comfy beds... Not much else for adults
Hotel for family's with young children. comfortable beds and friendly staff... But outdoor property dirty and not very well maintained. No late night activities at the resort or near by and extremely noisy starting in the early morning and going all day.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Colby

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

2/10 Terrible

Robin

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Fooled & Disappointed
Water park is not open 9am-9pm as it’s stated on here. Only for the weekends the other days 4-9pm. The staff is very unfriendly, tired, uninterested. There is no breakfast during the week. The hotel is run down trash and stains in the hallways. I had to console my kid and explain how some businesses use dishonesty to take the money they do not deserve to earn! Really! Awful experience overall.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Adrian

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I was charged additional reservation fee $88
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

4/10 Poor

Jessica

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff was rude all over the resort, especially the girl with all the piercings at the restaurant.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

4/10 Poor

Heidi

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
The hot tub in the room was dirty! The jets pushed out dirt causing the whole tub to be nasty and unusable. Told clerk at check out and she didn’t seem to care. Also the fireplace in the room was incredibly loud when turned on so we couldn’t use it, again informing the clerk of this. All the times for what was open and closed were wrong. So we missed out on the water park. It was closed when we got there. But what they gave us at check in with the times said it should have been open. Very frustrating with no apologies or even care from the employees.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

CAROL

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Linda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
I liked the motif of the lodge. It is in a very quiet area surrounded by beauty. The room was nice but they lack in simple maintenance—burned out light bulb, plugged up sink and a broken hair dryer were all very irritating. Making our reservation through Expedia, it was advertised as including breakfast. The desk staff informed me that they never include breakfast with rooms. Expedia was informed of this info but still includes it in the room description
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Dustin

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Really enjoyed our stay however the pool and arcade hours are quite disappointing in the off season. A lot of food options within 10 minutes. Very quiet location and great desk staff.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

4/10 Poor

Shawn

Travelled with family
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disappointed
Way too many hidden costs. Website claimed golf was free, that was a lie. S'mores and story time? Charged extra. Arcade? Expensive. Definitely plan on spending significant more than what you planned on.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Justin

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

4/10 Poor

Laurel

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
the ONLY thing we liked aboutt his hotel was its close proximity to the parks. NO coffee in room - no mention of t he factt hat sometimes they have it for free downstairs. Bar not open during the week. Horrible noise from our hot tub which ended up to be the shower sound in the next room. Just awful. Tv and wifi - sketchy. Not enough info about breakfast. Sometimes open, sometimes not. The in door pool seemed to be more for after school kids than guests who stayed over. Didn't look clean. Paige was theonly desk server who admitted that this hotel has some serious problems. My bet is that the owners are making money from the pool and the arcade and do notcare about the hotel guests who stay there over night. Gift shop cookies were AWFUL! Area where you could be sundries and snacks was so low stocked. If this is the end of the season -we should be getting charged LESS per night. We shouldbe told about suchthingsasno coffeee in room and where to find it. I had to ask three different people. I would never stay here again, nor would I suggest any one else stay here. This place needs some serious help and I urge those thinkingabout it to pass it by. Go to Starved Rock Lodge and come here for the indoor pool if your kids really want t o.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

rodica

Travelled with family, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
We had a pretty nice stay! Cons:A bunch of ants in the room, a little outdated,water smelled like poop(I had to let it run for about 20 min to clear out a bit), waterpark closing early sunday, ladies at Tree tops cafe a little slow. Pros: waterpark pretty good size and variety( lazy river, waves pool, slides,etc), nice decor, minigolf, playgroung, outside bar.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

4/10 Poor

Jeffrey

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disappointing
Our visit was disappointing. No one told us that everything would be closed for most of our stay. The room was abysmal. No peep hole in the door. The nightstand light was too small for anything. Our microwave worked but didn't rotate. No towel rack at the sink. Toilet seat needed replacing. The couch in our room looked like it came from a homeless shelter. TV way too small. The room was so poorly lit the place felt like a cave. The remote power button didn't work and we had to unplug the TV. The patio deck rail was completely rotten away and we could have pushed it over. Too dangerous for small children or ones who don't listen not to touch. Our check-in and check-out were poor - the staff members barely spoke or even looked at us and I doubt they cared at all about us even being there. We had already stayed at four other properties on our road trip before getting to this one, and this was easily and far away the worst of them. We had high hopes about being able to bring our grandchildren here for a later trip, but that won't happen now. Save your money, or at least be sure to ask about what is operating at the time of your visit before you reserve. "Resort" in their name is very loosely used.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jake

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

2/10 Terrible

Lisa

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Melissa

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Latoya

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I enjoyed my stay, me and the kids had a great time in the water park
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

2/10 Terrible

Kathleen, Shorewood

Travelled with family and small children
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Lied about pool hours
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024