Entire home

Starved Rock Retreat- 5 min from State Parks!

Photo gallery for Starved Rock Retreat- 5 min from State Parks!

Exterior
Property video
Smart TV, fireplace, stereo
Terrace/patio
Interior

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms2 bathrooms0 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Dryer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace
  • Washer

Explore the area

View map
Ottawa, IL
  • Place, Matthiessen State Park
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Place, Starved Rock State Park
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Place, Buffalo Rock State Park
    ‪22 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

About the area

Ottawa

Located in Ottawa, this vacation home is on the waterfront, within a 10-minute drive of Mix's Trading Post and LaSalle County Historical Society & Museum. .This vacation home is 10.2 mi (16.4 km) from Starved Rock State Park and 4.6 mi (7.5 km) from August Hill Winery Tasting Room.

What's nearby

  • August Hill Winery Tasting Room - 10 min drive - 8.8 km
  • Matthiessen State Park - 13 min drive - 10.2 km
  • Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park - 13 min drive - 9.5 km
  • Starved Rock State Park - 20 min drive - 17.9 km
  • Buffalo Rock State Park - 22 min drive - 20.3 km

Getting around

  • Mendota Station - 32 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Cats Q - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Cam’s Corner - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Bears Den - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Casa Mia - ‬7 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Starved Rock Retreat- 5 min from State Parks!

Private, gated entrance, firepit, large soaking tub in master bathroom, bar, BT speaker, dining room table for 10, fireplace, large screened in patio, water views, 21ft ceilings, smart TV, Grills, open floor plan, queen size bunks for kids or adults! Lots of Amenities! We believe it's the details that matter. Located in the heart of the Illinois Valley.















5 minutes from Starved Rock! Centrally located between and easy access to: 

---1 mile to Buffalo Rock State Park. 



---1 mile to a I&M Canal Trail entrance. 



---4.9 miles to Downtown Utica. 



---5.3 miles to Downtown Ottawa. 



---5.9 miles to Starved Rock State Park Visitors Center within the park. 



---7.4 miles to Matthiessen State Park.



Perfect as an escape for 2, for a family with children, or for large groups and family reunions. Secluded while still being close to everything, no neighbors, and beautiful views of nature. 



You will have privacy. The entrance is gated and the house is surrounded by many acres of our own land. Our hope is that you can not only unplug and unwind but also make memories that will last a lifetime. 



Guests always comment on and love the 21 ft. ceilings, open floor plan, great amenities, and cleanliness. The sunsets are beautiful and can be seen directly from the sunroom behind the house. They are one of our favorite things about the property. 



We are happy to be as involved or uninvolved in your stay as you wish. We pride ourselves in quick response times. Our goal is to make your stay a 5 STAR experience. We can meet you for check-in if desired. 



*** We have multiple places to park large campers, motor homes, or trailers. 



*** You are welcome to bring canoes, fishing gear, life jackets, or kayaks. We do not supply these items. 






Fun facts: 



---Our property used to be owned by a mining company. The lakes and ponds at Starved Rock Retreat used to be mines. They filled in with natural spring water and are still spring fed to this day. The fishing is great! 



---The tall wooden front doors are from a church in Brazil. They were picked out and flown in by the original owner who built this home. 





---The blue ceiling in the sunroom is a specific color called haint blue. The original owner picked this color as it is said to protect the home. 






Guests have access to the entire house and surrounding area including the fire pit and small lakes behind the house. Feel free to take a peaceful walk down the gravel drive that stretches behind the house. Fishing is great!! You can bring fishing gear or canoes. You can swim. We require anyone in the water to wear a life jacket. We do not supply life jackets, please bring your own. Pet friendly.

Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, which features a fireplace and a Smart TV. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Conveniences include a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
This smoke-free vacation home offers a stereo.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Porch/lanai

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 5 steps to reach entrance
  • Gravel flooring in public areas
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • No lift
  • Single level property
  • Smooth flooring in public areas
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Change of bedsheets (on request)
  • Change of towels on request
  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Kayak

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Bed sheets changed on request
  • Double-glazed windows
  • Energy-saving switches in guestrooms
  • Towels (changed on request)
  • Unit size: 1 square foot

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks, and take out the trash
Turn off the lights, lock the doors, and return the keys

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total pets

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Note from host: We have coloring books, board games, kids books.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit 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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

Property is also known as

782041

Reviews

Starved Rock Retreat- 5 min from State Parks! Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 7 out of 8 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 8 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 8 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 8 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 8 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Courtney F.

Liked: Cleanliness

Bachelorette Weekend

Starved Rock Retreat was the perfect spot for our low-key, relaxing bachelorette weekend. From the minute we booked our stay, the hosts were very helpful and responsive to any and all questions we had, even going so far as to provide recommendations on things to do in the area so we could plan our activities ahead of time.The house was absolutely amazing and had everything we needed and then some. Our only regret was not having more time to check out more of what the area has to offer. Before we left we were already talking about coming back.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Corey B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Tremendous Experience

We had 11 guys for my sons bachelor party and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. PLENTY of room and the location was great. Highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Maggie Z.

Liked: Cleanliness
Gorgeous property and home. Sparkling clean, everything from the grounds to the counters to the linens. They have really invested a lot into the maintenance and luxury of this VRBO yet somehow it still feels like a place where you are encouraged to unwind and relax. The owners were responsive and accommodating. The rental is priced fair for the area. You are close to what you need but it’s set far back and on a private lot against the water so you feel like you are in the cozy woods. We had a blast tubing down the river at Ayer’s Landing on Saturday. The owners and workers were great and made it an easy experience. Only 35 for an entire day relaxing on the water! The local areas are super cute with great food. I recommend The Lone Buffalo in downtown Ottawa for delicious food and friendly service. Bruce & Ollie’s in Utica is perfect for coffee or ice cream. Their patio is dog-friendly! We were at this VRBO all weekend and have zero complaints.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carly S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Beautiful retreat

Amazing vacation retreat! The owners did not miss a single thing down to the littlest detail. The house is beautiful and stocked with all of the amenities.The property is out of this world. You can explore for days and keep finding something new.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

LONNIE P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing.

The property was so amazing me and my friends and family had a great time. The host are great people. We will be going back again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daniel H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing all the way around

We had 13 women for a fitness retreat and everything was amazing. From all my questions answered right away to the welcome basket and everything provided that you can possibly think of, this place was perfect. The beds were super comfortable, the porch was the perfect coffee spot, the kitchen was stocked and everything was clean, roomy and welcoming. We hiked, kayaked and ate and drank by the river. Would come back for sure! Great hosts
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Garret J.

Liked: Cleanliness

Anniversary Celebration

Spectacular Space - Highly Recommend for a Nature filled get away.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

4/10 Poor

Matthew A.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2025