Grand Bear Resort At Starved Rock Utica, Utica - Reviews, Rooms Options & Prices 2025

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About the Resort

2643 Il Route 178, Utica, Illinois, United States of America, 61373

Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock is a family-friendly destination uniquely situated just steps from Starved Rock State Park and Matthiessen State Park. Its stunning natural settings, featuring towering canyons and seasonal waterfalls, provide a breathtaking backdrop for a variety of recreational activities. A well-rounded resort experience is enhanced by an array of luxurious accommodations, each designed for comfort and convenience. The resort also boasts an indoor water park and amusement park, making it a notable choice for families looking for adventure in a serene environment.

Location

Grand Bear Resort is conveniently located in Oglesby, Illinois, just minutes away from Starved Rock State Park and Matthiessen State Park, both renowned for their hiking trails and natural beauty. The resort is situated 1.7 miles from LaSalle County Historical Society & Museum and about 1.5 miles from Deer Park Country Club. With easy access from I-80, it serves as an ideal gateway for exploring the rich landscapes of the Illinois Valley.

Rooms

The resort offers an assortment of guest units, including lodge rooms, private villas, and luxury cabins. Each room comes with comforts such as air conditioning, cable TV with premium channels, a microwave, and a refrigerator. Select accommodations feature additional amenities like balconies, separate living rooms, and en-suite whirlpool tubs. Spacious villas also include dining areas and fireplaces, while family cabins accommodate larger groups.

Eat & Drink

Onsite dining options include Jack's Place Restaurant & Bar, offering classic American cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Signature dishes cater to diverse palates, with various beverages available to complement meals. For quick bites, Treetops Cafe provides convenient options such as coffee, breakfast items, and ice cream, ensuring that guests have everything they need during their stay.

Leisure & Business

Guests can indulge in a variety of recreational activities, including access to an indoor water park, outdoor mini golf, and an arcade. The water park features a pool, lazy river, and hot tub, ensuring fun for all ages. For those seeking additional outdoor adventures, options such as hiking, boating, rafting, and ziplining are available, along with organized craft time and movie showings for family entertainment.

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Select your room type

The hotel offers a variety of rooms including double rooms, family rooms, and suites with breakfast, free cancelations, and special deals

Queen Room

Max:

6 persons

23 m²

Bed options:

2 King Size Beds

Shower

Heating

room details

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Queen Room

Max:

6 persons

23 m²

Bed options:

2 King Size Beds

Shower

Heating

room details

Check Prices

Two-Bedroom Villa

Max:

9 persons

149 m²

Bed options:

2 King Size Beds

Shower

Fireplace

room details

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Getting around

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City Center

Utica 2.4 mi

Airports

Central Illinois Regional (BMI) 67.7 mi

Chicago Rockford International (RFD) 74.0 mi

Facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences

Comfortable Accommodations

“The room was spacious and well-furnished, providing a cozy atmosphere that made our stay very enjoyable.” view full review

Relaxing Spa

“The spa facilities offered a serene environment with excellent treatments that left me feeling rejuvenated.” view full review

Delicious Dining

“The variety of dining options was impressive, and every meal we had was flavorful and satisfying.” view full review

Exciting Waterpark

“The waterpark was a highlight of our trip, with fun slides and pools that the kids loved, making our family experience lovely.” view full review

General

Non-smoking property
Free Wi-Fi
Free parking
24-hour reception
Elevator
ATM/Cash machine
Gift/Newsstand
Fireplace

Guest Parking

Dryer
Cookware/ Kitchen utensils

Services

Newspaper service

Dining

Paid breakfast
Restaurant
Bar/ Lounge area
Picnic area/ Tables

Business

Meeting room

Children

Game room

Room features

Free Wi-Fi in rooms
Sitting area
Tea and coffee facilities
Dining table

Bathroom

Washing machine
Free toiletries

Self-catering

Dryer
Cookware/ Kitchen utensils

Media

Flat-screen TV
AM/FM alarm clock

Room decor

Carpeted floor

Location

2643 Il Route 178, Utica, Illinois, United States of America, 61373

Map view

2643 Il Route 178, Utica, Illinois, United States of America, 61373

City landmarks

Parks

Starved Rock State Park

5000 ft

Parks

Matthiessen State Park

1.5 mi

Saint Louis Canyon

3100 ft

Aurora Canyon

1.2 mi

Public Building

Starved Rock Lock and Dam

1.4 mi

Oglesby

Lover's Leap Overlook

1.3 mi

Oglesby

Pontiac Canyon

1.3 mi

Wildcat Canyon

1.5 mi

201 Donaldson St North Utica

SRE Playland

1.3 mi

Oglesby

Eagle Cliff Overlook

1.4 mi

Dee Bennett Road

Grand Village of the Illinois

1.4 mi

Oglesby

Beehive Overlook

1.5 mi

Matthiessen State Park Fort

1.6 mi

229 Clark St

The Rock and Soul

1.6 mi

French Canyon

1.8 mi

101 E Canal St

La Salle County Historical Museum

1.7 mi

IL-71

LaSalle Canyon

2.1 mi

IL-71

Tonty Canyon

2.0 mi

Nature reserve

Pecumsaugan Creek

2.4 mi

Owl Canyon

2.4 mi

Starved Rock

2.8 mi

Split Rock Lake

2.8 mi

IL-71

Hennepin Canyon

3.0 mi

Museums

Hegeler Carus Mansion

4.1 mi

Nearby

2643 N State Route 178 Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort

Grand Bear Water Park

600 ft

Restaurants

Jack's Place Restaurant & Bar

300 ft

2643 N IL Rte 178 East Side of Building

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience

84%

liked the resort and would come back again

Fun indoor waterpark

Access to hiking

Poor communication

Unclean accommodations

8.4/10

Great

Rooms

5.5

Location

7.8

Service

5.3

Dining

5.5

Ethan

United Kingdom, February 2025

5.0/10

Our recent stay at this resort was quite disappointing. We faced numerous issues from the start, including cleanliness and broken amenities. While we managed to enjoy some fun activities with the kids, overall the experience left us feeling frustrated. The water park situation was particularly disappointing, especially not being informed prior to our arrival.

Rooms

5.0

The accommodations were overall dirty, with an unpleasant feel and inadequate maintenance. The mattresses seemed to be outdated and uncomfortable, making it hard to relax.

Service

5.0

The service was not very welcoming, and it felt like the staff was overwhelmed and had trouble addressing our issues promptly. This added to our discomfort during the stay.

Location

7.0

The location has great potential, being close to beautiful state parks, but that was overshadowed by the issues we encountered inside the resort itself.

Dining

5.0

Dining was also a letdown; food options were extremely limited, and prices felt high for what we received.

Facilities

5.0

Facilities like the indoor waterpark were closed, which we were not informed about before arriving. The overall appeal of the facilities was diminished because of cleanliness issues.

Avery

United Kingdom, December 2024

8.6/10

We had a lovely stay at the resort, enjoying the spacious accommodations and a great waterpark experience. The staff was attentive and actively engaged with us during our time there, which made our trip feel personal. While the dining options were decent, they could use a bit more variety. Overall, this place offers a lot of fun activities for families, making it a worthy getaway, though the cleanliness in some areas could be improved.

Rooms

9.0

The villa was spacious and beautifully decorated, providing plenty of room for our family.

Service

9.0

The employees were very friendly and went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable.

Location

8.0

The resort is conveniently located near hiking areas, making it easy to explore nature.

Dining

7.0

The restaurant had a good breakfast buffet, but it could use a bit more variety for dinner options.

Facilities

10.0

The water park was a hit for the kids, with multiple slides and a lazy river that everyone enjoyed.

Robert

United Kingdom, December 2024

7.4/10

Our stay at the resort was quite an adventure, especially the kids who had a blast at the waterpark and enjoyed the organized family activities. The two-bedroom townhouse we rented provided ample space and some nice amenities, but the cleanliness in certain areas left a bit to be desired. Overall, we found good value for our family getaway, even though a few things could use some updating.

Rooms

7.0

We stayed in a spacious two-bedroom townhouse that was generally clean, though a bit dusty in some areas. The full kitchen and two bathrooms were great for our family.

Service

6.0

Staff were friendly and helpful when we had questions, but service felt minimal at times.

Location

9.0

The location was excellent, with easy access to outdoor areas and fun on-site activities for the whole family.

Dining

7.0

We enjoyed the pizza from the on-site restaurant; it was tasty and a nice treat after a long day of activities.

Facilities

8.0

The waterpark and various recreational facilities were well-maintained and added a lot of fun to our stay.

Jason

United Kingdom, November 2024

5.0/10

Our family reunion was a disaster due to the last-minute cancellation of our cabins after being promised they were fine, making communication with the staff incredibly frustrating. While the indoor waterpark was enjoyable when it was not too crowded, other facilities showed signs of neglect, and the overall experience did not meet our expectations, especially regarding cleanliness and safety.

Rooms

5.0

The cabin we stayed in was not well-maintained, and my relatives had significant issues with broken furniture and cleanliness.

Service

5.0

The customer service was lacking; we felt misled by the staff regarding our cabin reservations and their last-minute cancellation.

Location

7.0

The resort is near Starved Rock State Park, which offers great hiking opportunities but detracts from the resort's shortcomings.

Dining

5.0

Dining options were minimal and left much to be desired, with limited items available for what was charged.