Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock

3.0 star property

Photo gallery for Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock

Front of property
Luxury Cabin, 3 Bedrooms | Living area
Exterior
Indoor pool, open 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, lifeguards on site
Breakfast and dinner served, American cuisine

Reviews

7.4 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Breakfast available
  • Bar
  • Pool
  • Gym
  • 24/7 front desk

Explore the area

Map
2643 IL-178, Utica, IL, 61373
  • Starved Rock State Park
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Matthiessen State Park
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park
    ‪1 min drive‬

Room options

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Hot Tub

7.2 out of 10
Good
(5 reviews)
  • 37 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Family Suite with Balcony, 2 Queen Beds with Sofa Bed

7.8 out of 10
Good
(41 reviews)
  • 37 sq m
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

Family Suite with Balcony, 2 Queen Beds with Sofa Bed

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

Villa, 2 Bedrooms

7.6 out of 10
Good
(20 reviews)
  • 167 sq m
  • Sleeps 9
  • 1 King Bed, 1 Twin Sofa Bed, 2 Queen Beds and 1 Queen Sofa Bed

Luxury Cabin, 3 Bedrooms

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)
  • 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

Similar properties

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 (2.5 km) from Deer Park Country Club and 1.8 mi (3 km) from LaSalle County Historical Society & Museum.

What's nearby

  • Starved Rock State Park - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Matthiessen State Park - 12 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park - 1 min drive - 0.0 km
  • August Hill Winery Tasting Room - 5 min drive - 4.2 km
  • Buffalo Rock State Park - 12 min drive - 11.9 km

Getting around

  • Mendota Station - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Casey's - ‬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 hot 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 transport

  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Weekend buffet breakfast available 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM for a fee: USD 15 for adults and USD 12 for children
  • 2 bars/lounges
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A restaurant

Restaurants on site

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

Things to do

  • 18-hole adjacent golf course
  • 24-hour gym
  • Arcade/game room
  • Children's pool
  • Concerts/live shows
  • Free water park
  • Games
  • Hot tub
  • Indoor pool
  • Lazy river
  • Mini golf
  • Playground
  • Volleyball
  • Waterslide
  • Wine tasting room
  • Wine tours

Family friendly

  • Arcade/game room
  • Children's games
  • Children's pool
  • Free water park access
  • Indoor pool
  • Lazy river
  • Lifeguards on site
  • Mini golf
  • Playground
  • Waterslide

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • ATM
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Gift shop/newsstand

Business services

  • Meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • In a state park
  • Picnic area

Accessibility

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

More

  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Lifeguards
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 42-inch TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Ice maker

More

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Connecting rooms available
  • Heating
  • 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
  • Hot 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
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

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. 277 out of 834 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 236 out of 834 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 153 out of 834 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 83 out of 834 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 85 out of 834 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

10/10 Excellent

Joseph

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything was great
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Valerie

Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Erin

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This is our second time staying at grand bear. Staff was all very friendly. Rooms were clean. Pool area was clean with adequate towels. We will definitely be back again!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

2/10 Terrible

Tonya

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
As much as we paid to stay here I expected it to be much better. We had used washcloths hanging over the shower curtain when we got to our room. The pull out sofa mattress was absolutely disgusting, very dirty floors, the a/c was broken, we were given washcloths that looked like rags and super small towels that felt like sand paper. The hot tub looked like it was filled with urine. The entire property is old and very outdated. With as much as they charge they can definitely afford some upgrades. This was the most disappointing place we have ever been to and will NEVER go back. SAVE YOUR MONEY!!!!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

4/10 Poor

Casey

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Shower and jets in room hot tub did not work. Told thr front desk and just got a "sorry about that" response with no attempt to reimburse or resolve.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carolina

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
My family absolutely loved this place it's very comfortable and fun but obviously it can't be that perfect there are two things that I could only complain about the shower head was terrible mostly all the water came out from the bottom and not from the top maintenance did go fix it water did stop coming out from the bottom but still hardly came out from the shower head from all the calcium or salt water that was stuck on there and the Very bottoms of the beds where the bed skirts go where pretty stained but it is a kids vacation spot basically but the beds were actually clean and comfortable other than that it's a really fun experience for a family of five
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

VICKI

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
nice
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Olline

Travelled with family and small children
We had a great people brought the desperate friendly. Our rooms were very very clean. The waterpark was a lot of fun. All the grounds were beautiful that’s it.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cam

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Sabrina

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The cabin was nice, the area was quiet and peaceful. The kids enjoyed the pool
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cody

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was a mid-week, spring break, get away. The hotel and staff were fantastic. None of the facilities (pool, game room, restaurants, etc) were open to review.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

4/10 Poor

Robert

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children, Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service
I feel like for the price per night at the villa it would’ve been more cleaner. I also thought we would’ve been compensated for coming into a villa with a bed full of sperm all over the comforter, no we had to keep the same pillows that she came in and dragged across that same comforter, had to keep the same sheets as well, just got a white comforter, that’s all. I politely told her she don’t have to set the new comforter up because after seeing how you all handle that situation for the price, I didn’t want any issues or to be said I was causing a scene. And none of the walls get cleaned, like at all. But besides that as far as the pool and arcade, we honestly really enjoyed ourself.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Iris

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gary

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
we enjoyed the waterpark and the location and surrounding area.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Terese

Travelled with family
Disliked: Amenities
No food services available at all. Only coffee was available in the morning. Didn't care that the waterpark was closed, we expected that...however, nothing else was open. Very diappointed.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

4/10 Poor

Lisa, Morton

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
No coffee maker in room as advertised. Everything, coffee shop, restaurant, bar and water park, are closed Monday-Wednesday! We were not aware of this and were extremely disappointed. The only time they are open all week is spring Break and summer.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Kevin

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Staff & service
Okay not the best , should of include a breakfast or dinner snack for the price you pay per night , buy food from the restaurant they have is expensive ,two of the restaurants they have is pretty much the same food so one restaurant provides food to other place , front desk staff was nice, pool staff could care less about things , i believe since this place is for children it should be for children not the adult running around with g-string swimming suits on so they butt out ,not appropriate
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Missy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

4/10 Poor

Melvin

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
They never charged my original deposit from September, 2024....Their idea of an Indoor water park is absurd, nobody pays attention to their own rule that people under 16 should never be in the hot tub....Front Desk didn’t have a single roll of toilet paper when we ran out.....TV guide didn’t work fromremote, you had to flip throughall channelsto see what was on....I would never stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Ashok

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Everything is good except the utensils in our cabin
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

6/10 Okay

Alexis

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Therese

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

2/10 Terrible

Casey

Travelled with family and small children
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
I paid for a Birthday weekend getaway for my 7 year old. I paid for Early check in to waterpark and the was ready to have a wonderful birthday weekend. Got in the pool and the water temp was cold. My kids lips were blue in 20 mins and the temp outside the pool was just as cold. We ended up spending more money saturday at another place in Utica because nobody liked the temps Saturday morning either. I cant belive you would even advertise indoor waterpark. I could have gone to a Super 8 with a pool that would have control over the enviroment in the waterpark / pool area much cheaper.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025