Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock

Name: Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock
Address: 2643 IL-178, Utica, Illinois, 61373, Utica, US

Location: 2643 IL-178, Utica, Illinois, 61373, Utica, US

Star Rating: 3 Stars

Property Type: Hotels

About this Property

Recreational Amenities
Indulge in a complimentary water park, indoor pool, and lazy river for endless fun and relaxation.

Dining and Entertainment
Savor American cuisine at Jack's Place and enjoy beverages at the multiple bars/lounges on-site.

Convenience and Comfort
Stay connected with free Wi-Fi, unwind in guest rooms with modern amenities, and explore nearby attractions easily.

Book your stay now and experience the perfect blend of leisure and comfort at Grand Bear Resort!

Important Information

Pool access available from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Some facilities may have restricted access. Guests can contact the property for details using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
Contactless check-out is available.

Policies

Check-in: 04:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Instructions: Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property.

Amenities & Facilities

Meeting rooms
Boat tours nearby
Fireplace in lobby
Arcade/game room
Free WiFi
24-hour front desk
Picnic area
Elevator
ATM/banking
Gift shops or newsstand
Bicycle rentals nearby
Fireplace in lobby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Kayaking nearby
Breakfast available (surcharge)
Arcade/game room
Rafting nearby
Free newspapers in lobby
Skydiving nearby
Meeting rooms
Smoke-free property
Lazy river
Waterslide
Miniature golf on site
Playground on site
Volleyball on site
Free self parking
Free water park access
24-hour fitness facilities
Boat tours nearby
Ziplining nearby
Games
Concerts/live shows
Tasting room
Public winery tours
Children's games
Motor boating nearby
Fishing nearby
Horse riding nearby
Personal motor watercraft nearby
Wheelchair-accessible public washroom
Lifeguard on site

Rooms Available

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Hot Tub

1 King Bed
400 sq feet

Layout - Separate sitting area
Relax - Indoor private hot tub and fireplace
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - 42-inch TV with cable channels
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker and ice maker
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower/tub combination, a hair dryer, and towels
Practical - Iron/ironing board, phone, and wardrobe or closet
Comfort - Climate-controlled air conditioning and heating
Need to Know - No cribs (infant beds) or rollaway/extra beds available
Non-Smoking

Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Fireplace
- Interconnected room(s) available
- Wardrobe or closet
- Toilet paper
- Shampoo
- Separate sitting area
- Free WiFi
- Private spa tub
- No rollaway/extra beds
- No cribs (infant beds)
- Bedsheets provided
- Soap
- Ice maker
Deluxe Suite

1 King Bed and 2 Queen Beds
500-sq-foot room with hill views

Layout - 2 bedrooms, living room, and sitting area
Relax - Indoor private hot tub and fireplace
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - 42-inch TV with cable channels
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker and ice maker
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - Shower/tub combination, a hair dryer, and towels
Practical - Laptop workspace, iron/ironing board, and phone; rollaway beds (free) and cribs (free) available on request
Comfort - Climate-controlled air conditioning and heating
Non-Smoking

Max Occupancy: 7 (7 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Heating
- Fireplace
- Wardrobe or closet
- Toilet paper
- Shampoo
- Separate sitting area
- Free WiFi
- Private spa tub
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Bedsheets provided
- Soap
- Laptop-friendly workspace
- Ice maker
Family Suite with Balcony, 2 Queen Beds with Sofa Bed

2 Queen Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed
400-sq-foot room with a balcony

Layout - Separate sitting area
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - 42-inch TV with cable channels
Food & Drink - Kitchenette with microwave, coffee/tea maker, and paper towels
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower/tub combination, a hair dryer, and towels
Practical - Playpen, iron/ironing board, and phone; cribs (free) available on request
Comfort - Climate-controlled air conditioning and heating
Need to Know - No rollaway/extra beds available
Non-Smoking

Max Occupancy: 6 (6 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Kitchenette
- Microwave
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Interconnected room(s) available
- Wardrobe or closet
- Toilet paper
- Shampoo
- Separate sitting area
- Free WiFi
- No rollaway/extra beds
- In-room playpen
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Bedsheets provided
- Soap
- Paper towels
- Freezer
- Ice maker
Family Suite with Balcony, 2 Queen Beds with Sofa Bed

2 Queen Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed
Features a private balcony

Layout - Separate sitting area
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - 42-inch TV with cable channels
Food & Drink - Kitchenette with microwave, coffee/tea maker, and paper towels
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower/tub combination, a hair dryer, and towels
Practical - Iron/ironing board, phone, and wardrobe or closet; cribs (free) available on request
Comfort - Climate-controlled air conditioning and heating
Need to Know - No rollaway/extra beds available
Non-Smoking

Max Occupancy: 6 (6 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Kitchenette
- Microwave
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Interconnected room(s) available
- Wardrobe or closet
- Toilet paper
- Shampoo
- Separate sitting area
- Free WiFi
- No rollaway/extra beds
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Bedsheets provided
- Soap
- Paper towels
- Freezer
- Ice maker
Family Room, Multiple Beds

1 Queen Bed, 1 Twin Bunk Bed and 1 Twin Sofa Bed
Layout - Separate sitting area
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - 42-inch TV with cable channels
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker and ice maker
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - Shower/tub combination, a hair dryer, and towels
Practical - Iron/ironing board, phone, and wardrobe or closet
Comfort - Climate-controlled air conditioning and heating
Need to Know - No cribs (infant beds) or rollaway/extra beds available
Non-Smoking

Max Occupancy: 5 (5 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Heating
- Wardrobe or closet
- Toilet paper
- Shampoo
- Separate sitting area
- Free WiFi
- No rollaway/extra beds
- No cribs (infant beds)
- Bedsheets provided
- Soap
- Ice maker
Villa, 2 Bedrooms

1 King Bed, 1 Twin Sofa Bed, 2 Queen Beds and 1 Queen Sofa Bed
1800 sq feet

Layout - 2 bedrooms, living room, and sitting area
Relax - Indoor private hot tub and fireplace
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - 42-inch TV with cable channels
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker, ice maker, and dining table
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - 2 bathrooms, shower/tub combination, a hair dryer, and towels
Practical - Laptop workspace, playpen, and iron/ironing board; rollaway beds (free) and cribs (free) available on request
Comfort - Climate-controlled air conditioning and heating
Non-Smoking

Max Occupancy: 9 (9 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Fireplace
- Interconnected room(s) available
- Wardrobe or closet
- Dining table
- Toilet paper
- Shampoo
- Separate sitting area
- Free WiFi
- Private spa tub
- In-room playpen
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Bedsheets provided
- Soap
- Laptop-friendly workspace
- Ice maker
Luxury Cabin, 3 Bedrooms

1 King Bed, 1 Large Twin Sofa Bed, 2 Queen Beds, 2 Queen Bunk Beds, 2 Twin Bunk Beds and 1 Queen Sofa Bed
2799 sq feet

Layout - 3 bedrooms, living room, and sitting area
Relax - Indoor private hot tub and fireplace
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - 42-inch TV with cable channels
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker, ice maker, and dining table
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - 4 bathrooms, shower/tub combination, a hair dryer, and towels
Practical - Laptop workspace, playpen, and iron/ironing board; rollaway beds (free) available on request
Comfort - Climate-controlled air conditioning and heating
Need to Know - No cribs (infant beds) available
Non-Smoking

Max Occupancy: 18 (18 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- TV
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Fireplace
- Interconnected room(s) available
- Wardrobe or closet
- Dining table
- Toilet paper
- Shampoo
- Separate sitting area
- Free WiFi
- Private spa tub
- No cribs (infant beds)
- In-room playpen
- Bedsheets provided
- Soap
- Laptop-friendly workspace
- Ice maker

Guest Reviews

693windyc (2/5): Discrimination/Harassment - The customer service is awful. Obviously the manager nor the front desk staff is educated enough to read their own website! Shawna or however you spell it because why would you wear a name badge or state your name when you are rude and hateful! She should never work with the public! The manager never bothered to follow up on my email. I have stayed at this resort over 50 times but I will not again under this manager and front desk staff! The front desk staff not only can’t read their own websites graph let alone their 3rd party agreements that are advertising that a waterpark is open when it is not. She proceeded to tell across the lobby when let me state this again has no clue how to read a graph on the company website she works for, oh let me also say she only cared about being on her phone, being in the back room, and being disrespectful to all the customers! The big issue the next day is the sewer was backing up in the cabins that were being rented. How disgusting, nevermind the pubic hair in the bed in my room! Oh did I forget to mention I have an autistic son that was devastated after traveling for 2 plus hours not even to be able to swim in the pool area. She was completely rude and hateful again towards my child nor did she mention the arcade in the lower level to me, luckily I knew. By my own fault I left my cell phone on the counter at the Dollar General in Tonica, but she refused to call me my room or transfer me there to communicate with my friend that was with my son trying to console him after not being able to go swimming, nor could she walk to room 205 which is literally so close to the front desk that she could of walked and knocked on the door in 30 seconds to let them know I was okay after going to another town due to the receipt stating that and I had my friends cell while trying to drive to a Dollar General to find mine. I also forgot to mention that the manager last time I was there put up a gold cross that was found in my room for me to get when I returned the next time, Shawna was annoyed that I requested for her to look as if she wasn’t being paid to work! This business has literally moved to the bottom of my list for customer service. After renting rooms from three different owners and being a returning customer one would think that I should be treated with respect! The disrespect I won’t tolerate is one towards a child and especially one with a disability! Shame on your business! I will always boycott anyone staying at your resort for the discrimination! I will be cc the bbb and dept of disabilities for the discrimination towards my child! Shame on your business!
331sherriek (6/5): Could've been so much better - Left a review on their website and they changed the 1-10 scale choices just as I hit submit. We stayed in a villa an the accommodation was great, but plan on bringing all.your toiletries as the supply a bar of hand soap and nothing more. Several things were broken but the worst part was that we purchased the VIP wrist bands for the waterpark and the water was freezing. And didnt improve at all. They didn't have enough lifeguards on duty until 11 so it was just a giant pool until then. The hotub was colder than the main pool one of the days . The location was great that's what sold us to stay there. Atmosphere was ok
Y4649APamyc (2/5): They do not care about you - Extremely Disappointed – Serious Cleanliness & Safety Concerns We recently stayed at Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock and paid extra for early check-in and late check-out, expecting to enjoy a relaxing family weekend. Unfortunately, we didn’t even stay 24 hours before deciding to leave. Upon arrival, we were excited and headed straight to the pool. The water was not warm at all. Within 30 minutes, my son’s lips were blue from how cold it was. We had to leave the main pool and stay in the infant pool just to make it manageable. When we returned to our room, the real issues began. I looked down at the floor and immediately saw a fake nail. As I looked closer, I found multiple nail clippings, pieces of food, and later found another fake nail. This was extremely alarming, especially because we have an 11-month-old daughter who could have easily picked one of these items up and choked. The lack of proper cleaning is not just unpleasant — it’s dangerous. It didn’t stop there. There were pieces of hair on the bed cover. When we opened the pull-out bed, the mattress was black and had visible holes in it. For a non-smoking establishment, there were multiple cigarette burns in the carpet, and the guest staying below us was actively smoking in their room. We couldn’t even enjoy fresh air from the balcony because of the cigarette smoke. To make matters worse, there was no manager on site to address our concerns. We were still required to pay in full. We were given a phone number and email address to send our complaints and photos to. After leaving three phone messages and sending three emails with photo evidence, we have received no response. We are extremely disappointed. This was supposed to be a family getaway, and instead it turned into a stressful and concerning experience. We deserve a refund and, at the very least, a response. We are still hoping the business will step up, take accountability, and honor its commitment to guests.
Curious38966201974 (4/5): Reservation and service experience - It cannot be possible that we can do reservations and the pool is close and they be getting customers in to check in. Everything is closed. Everything around there has bad reviews. (No shade)
609laceeh (2/5): WORST STAY - Don’t waist your money! Room wasn’t “clean” I had to request new bed sheets. I had a hair in my bed then my kids had crumbs! POOL was absolutely freezing! Couldn’t even enjoy the water because it was SO COLD! We reported it and was told several times there was nothing we can do. The heat is on. Lifeguards were wearing hoodies!! If that doesn’t say anything I don’t know what will. My kids literally broke out in rashes after the pool visit. The room was FREEZING when the heat wasn’t running! It was miserable. I will never go back! I hope others learn from these reviews before paying all this money! Also if you do stay bring pillows because ours were flatter than a pancake!! It was miserable! I should have took pics of the other dirty parts of our room but didn’t.
ecarvajal8282 (2/5): Horrible Customer Service, smells, nothing was open in the resort - Went on a weekday, took time off work for my daughters birthday. Went from Mon- wed and water park was closed because it was “off-season” & “kids were back in school” was so upset! My daughters birthday was on a Tuesday and everything in Utica is literally closed! I checked out early and they wouldn’t consider a refund for the 1 night i didn’t stay. No empathy, no options, no nothing. Aside from this I paid for a breakfast package. When I asked at my check in they said I have to ask in the morning and they will give me a “box”, NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING!!! when i checked out in the morning, they didnt offer my breakfast for my family. The sheets smelled like feet on one of the beds and the toilets were very loud when flushing. Nothing what I expected. Who takes reservations for a waterpark resort when everything is closed? They said “because it is also a hotel”… ok, well say something at time of reservations on what is included! They advertised the waterpark, I reserved thinking it will not be so crowded since it was a weekday and to my surprise no activities were open… ya’ll really need to consider on refunding for certain situations instead of being greedy!
cinthiap2026 (2/5): Definitely doesn’t give “resort” vibes. - We stayed in cabin 22-2 and it was ok, not good for the price it was and definitely not resort type of place. The cabin was dirty, still had New Year’s Eve confetti in the floor from previous guests, no soap, towels, toilet paper in the bathrooms, no extra trash bags. The trash can was broken no lid, overall no attention to detail, food was alright at tha Jack’s Restaurant, the pools are very cold. Wouldn’t go back.
robertcI6779AS (4/5): New Years stay - Used to be awesome resort, we went there many times and apparently management changed. Water park was ice cold, jacuzzi green and smelly. Hotel was dirty, not vacuumed nor mopped, garbage’s were overflowing. Bar and restaurant closed on New Years. Breakfast buffet very limited, cold and out of food constantly, area was very dirty. This place need a new management.
judywW2494BA (4/5): Dirty unit - Unit 3-3 had bugs, floors were dirty. The unit was poorly supplied. Not a good experience, especially for the price. Hopefully this review causes a better cleaning.
pliebel0917 (2/5): Checked Out Early Due to Ongoing Maintenance and Service Issues - We’re on a family vacation and began our trip with two nights at the Sable on Navy Pier, which was an excellent experience. Unfortunately, that made the contrast with our stay at Grand Bear Lodge very clear—and not in a good way. Check-in was fine, but issues started almost immediately. We booked a kids’ suite with bunk beds and there were not enough blankets for everyone. When we contacted the front desk, we were told there were no additional blankets available. We also did not have enough washcloths or soap and had to go down and ask for basic supplies. For a resort that’s only about 20 years old, the property feels very worn. The overall atmosphere reminded us of an aging carnival cruise ship—busy, chaotic, and poorly maintained. Kids running around is expected at a family resort and isn’t the issue. The issue was cleanliness and staffing. Trash, towels, clothing, and other items were left in hallways for extended periods with no visible cleanup. That lack of attention extended to common areas. The lobby fireplace area was left in disarray with puzzles and debris spread across tables and the floor, and no staff addressing it. Our room had consistent problems. The sheets were scratchy and uncomfortable, the room lighting was very poor, and the faucets and toilet handle were nearly frozen stuck and difficult to use. During the stay, the heater stopped working entirely. Several electrical outlets did not work, and as a result, none of our phones charged overnight. On top of that, our key cards deactivated twice, requiring extra trips to the front desk. The pool water appeared murky, which made us uncomfortable using it. On the food side, the café did not have anyone available to make food one morning, so we couldn’t eat at the hotel at all. There was also no coffee maker in the room, which feels like a basic miss—especially when on-site food service is unreliable. There were very few positives. The arcade was decent but expensive given the overall cost of the stay. One bright moment was spending New Year’s Eve together as a family playing Go Fish and Texas Hold’em in the lobby. The hotel’s official NYE event was exclusive and $40 per person, and given everything else, we chose to opt out. Ultimately, the issues felt systemic rather than isolated. Because of the cumulative problems, we checked out a night early. We asked for a refund for the unused night and were initially offered a two-night gift card instead. Since we do not plan to return, we declined and ultimately received the refund. This stay did not meet expectations for a property marketed as a family resort, especially at this price point. Based on our experience, we would not return or recommend it.
jaymem2026 (2/5): swimming at the polar plunge!!! - The water is ICE and I mean ICE!!! They have a sign that reads the water is 86 degrees and it’s a FAT LIE! My kids couldn’t even enjoy the park because of the freezing temperatures! so ridiculous! They must want a lawsuit because a toddler in freezing water faces immediate, life-threatening risks like cold shock (gasping, panic, heart issues) and rapid loss of movement, leading to drowning, even for strong swimmers, with hypothermia setting in quickly due to their small body size and less fat insulation, causing confusion, fatigue, and eventual collapse!! They DO NOT care about their customers and even WORSE they DO NOT care about about children! when I called to get an explanation on why the water was so freezing I just got a run around! I hope this place goes bankrupt, cause they deserve it! come to our waterpark, pay all this money and not be able to swim!!!
F2855GWlaurenl (6/5): One time trip - Hotel was pretty clean but shows its age with some staining. Our shower didn’t work properly and they had it fixed in 20 min. Lifeguards were pretty attentive to the pools. Arcade attendant wasn’t the best with the kids, and didn’t want to put in much effort. Told my kid they didn’t feel like digging for a red toy so he had to choose a different color. Overall it was a decent experience for the kids as a one time trip.
877caitilinp (2/5): TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE, don’t stay in the “off season” - DO NOT STAY HERE IN THE OFF SEASON. This place shouldn’t be open in the “off season” Staff was completely unhelpful. Person checking us in was paying more attention to the football game and his friend than checking us in. Later in the day, we forgot our room keys and went to the front desk to ask for a key- the person there didn’t even ask my name or for an ID, just gave us a room key (hi, major security issue there). Only one place to get food and I’ve never had a worse meal in my life- we were the only people in the restaurant and it took close to an hour for our food. The food was basically inedible (rotten lettuce, rock hard pita bread, chicken so salty I couldn’t eat it), mushy French fries, some weird mystery substance on my husbands burger, every drink we tried to order was “sold out”, food made my child double over in pain. Water in the water park was frigid. Tried to get coffee in the morning (no on site breakfast in the “off season”) and the coffee dispensers didn’t have pumps to get the coffee out so my husband was told to just try pouring from the coffee urn into a cup which spilled all over. Thin sheets for blankets. The absolute worst. Close the place down in the off season if you’re going to treat people like this.
141debbif (10/5): Loved our fun weekend getaway!!! - We had a wonderful experience at the resort! We stayed in one of the villas, which was beautiful. My grandkids loved the waterpark and arcade. Breakfast buffet was very good. We got to see the visitors center and do some hiking. I would highly recommend going for a fun filled family vacation.
E6084ATgiusepped (2/5): Terrible Customer Service - Originally booked to celebrate my birthday with my wife and 6 year old son so he could enjoy the in door water park and arcade to find out upon arrival that everything was closed. Terrible customer service provided by the manager working on October 21st , 2025 in the morning, didn’t want to provide me with my check out paperwork stating my charges. Very disappointed!!
jimdoc21 (2/5): Don't Waste your money - Don't go there. It may have been a nice place at one point- but now it's really a dump. We rented a Family Deluxe Cabin- this is their highest-end accommodation. The 1st one we were in was a dump. The room smelled old and musty-the carpet was FILTHY, the paint was peeling. If we plugged something into both outlets- the electricity went off, But the biggest complaint- there were 4 bathrooms- all with showers- but if someone was taking a shower in one- the water in the rest of the house didn't work- not low pressure- NO water- sinks, toilets etc.- didn't work- only 1 person at a time could use a water outlet in a 3 bedroom/4 bath cabin. The next day, they moved us to a "brand new" cabin that had been "inspected" by the manager- besides the trouble of repacking everything and moving, there were many issues with this one as well. Peeling paint, dirty carpets, and the toilet in the upstairs room-the handle that lifts the clapper was rusted away and didn't work. But- on the plus side- the manager did give us free mini golf passes - So the mini golf place was worse than the rest of the "resort". Also, the waterpark is pretty small, and half of it was closed off- don't know why. I will never stay here again-
Scott (8/5): - Small problem I booked and paid for a room with a king sized bed And am staying in a room with queen beds. The cost was $70+ more for the room I paid for than the room I am staying in. Hope this can all get paid for. The room I am staying in is in a room below ground. I am on guest WiFi that is insecure so I can’t check my bank online to see the charges. I will get a bill in the morning and/or will check with front desk. I hope this gets resolved easily.
Steph (10/5): - This was a great affordable-fun-trip for the whole family. Very close to several hiking parks. North Utica was right down the road and they have a beautiful town with shops and food and coffees. We stayed in a Villa/Cabin. It was wonderful but could use some updates (linens, carpet, sofa, etc.) Nothing that would keep us away though. We'll definitely be back.
Victor (4/5): - All activities closed no food or restaurants on property. Out date place can here when it has open not the same place.
maureen (6/5): - Good
Islam (2/5): - NA
Rose (10/5): - Being in a room with a balcony, you don’t want to look out and see dirt. Such a beautiful area and our room faces dirt out back.
Brenda (8/5): - The room was clean and spacious but there was no where to eat when we arrived.
Melissa (6/5): - The water for the shower and sink had quite the well water smell and even the ice for our bottles each day. Pillows were flat and there was mold on the back of the bathroom door.
Amy (8/5): - It would of been nice to know that tge waterpark and the restaurants were closed Monday-Thursday!
Crystal (6/5): - Hours were very short for the pool and the bottom sheet refused to stay in the beds
Angel (2/5): - The front desk threw my card
Theresa (4/5): - Desk staff didnt know what they were doing. No hand soap in the room. Two lights in the room could not be turned on, missing knobs. No menu for the tv. No complimentary coffee in the morning, the machine was "broke". Towels for the pool were supposed to be supplied, there were not any. Way overpriced for the experience.
Diana (6/5): - Good location. Water has a funky smell in the room. Food in restaurant very poor and overpriced
Andrew (10/5): - Was clean very nice but microwave was broken but still worked and a sign was broken also. And time tv didn't work well and fire detector wouldn't stop beeping problem was resolved thank you. Other wise was great experience would recommend to anyone.....
Josh (10/5): - Fair price and comfortable. Staff is great!
793tabbyf (2/5): Horrible - Horrible place. My daughter went for a few day vacation for the water park and it was closed the whole 2 days. Wouldn’t change her reservation to a different day and also said they couldn’t have the pool band the day they left. Worst customer service
Robert (4/5): Every unsatisfied customer is one step closer - I was more than disappointed when i found out that the hot-tub/whirlpool suite i booked had a whirlpool that was non-functional. We would have extended our stay otherwise. Also, the pool was closed on the two days i booked, altho i admit i booked a Monday & Tuesday..even so..the restaurant was closed on site so we had to drive back to Ottawa to get food. The bugs crawling on the ceiling and in the bathroom were NOT my idea of a clean room. If the whirlpool wasnt working before we booked the room, i would guess the last people who had booked the room before us would have mentioned it to the manager, and it would have been fixed. Apparently housekeeping or maintenance didnt care enough to check it. The drain plug in the sink was broken. There were no amenities..no way to get drinks or snacks..the facility fluffed it off and claimed it was "off-season". Overall, it was wasted money for us. To pay for a whirlpool suite that didnt work was pointless. We left the next day and vow never to return. Poor maintenance, bugs, and an overall lack of concern. Also, i looked up the history of the Grand Bear Lodge and discovered it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy awhile back. Perhaps i will also contact the Shonenhein Groupe and make them aware of the status of their investment. If this is standard procedure for this resort, i forsee yet another bankruptcy in their future..
Contessa (10/5): - Very nice place
RICHARD (6/5): - Very nice place to visit but the water is well water and it stinks bad. Also security can be better as well as access to amenities as they have a bad schedule for all of them. I believe that you're spending 💰 for everything in the lodge but are limited.
danielbR1681CP (2/5): THE WORST WEEKEND OF MY LIFE - I consider myself a person who likes to travel and I have visited many hotels in my life, but this has been the worst of all, the facilities are nice, and the villas are very pretty, but everything was dirty. It is noticeable that they only change the sheets and put clean towels on and give the Villa to the next guest. Since I checked in at the hotel and checked the house, I immediately went to the reception to make a claim about the dirty house and the answer was "I'm very sorry, I'm going to put the note here so the manager can see it, we're going to send the cleaning person." Well, I'm still waiting. Dirty kitchen utensils, the floor full of dead insects, the shower full of hair, the toilet full of urine, no toilet paper or soap for bathing, clothes from the previous guest on the floor of the room. I told myself, okay, we can clean up and have a good weekend. Well, when I turned on the air conditioning it started working fine and after a few hours it stopped cooling. I returned to reception the next day to file a second complaint and to ask for a room change. It was already too much to sleep with heat. AGAIN, the answer was "I'm very sorry, I'm going to put the note here so the manager can see it, we will send the maintenance person and as expected, HE NEVER ARRIVED. And to complete my tragedy, the toilet water tank was leaking water, and it was filling up every 5 minutes, making quite a noise inside the room, another reason that kept me awake all night apart from the heat. This is a very nice place with a lot of potential, but it is managed by people who do not solve problems and do not care about the well-being of their guests. If you want to spend the worst weekend of your life, stay here. If you respect yourself, stay away from this place. And I forgot to mention the broken kitchen floor; I no longer remember so many faults it has.
Christina (2/5): Grand beer resort mess - When we first went in the front desk customers service was poor. We booked a room other than what we received. Then had to change the room. The room we switched to had huge spider webs in the corners. We were double charged by hotels.com and the resort. Also nothing was open for my kids. Was not a good stay at all.
Asher (10/5): - I woild recommemd Grand Bear Lodge simply for this; its family friendly outside a major urban area where you can enjoy nature in safety.
Teresa (8/5): - Smell of the water. The lighting in our room was poor and light hard to turn. Needs some updating.
Claire (6/5): - Cobwebs in the corners of the celing. No extra bedding of any kind. Nothing on line stating pool is closed and nothing stating eating areas weren't open. Asked front desk for extra pillows and desk clerk didn't have a clue where to find extra. Asked for a plate and once again she couldn't find a plate. Be serious people! You have a huge place and maybe 20 guest staying there. You have a snack area with cutlery and dishes and your clerk didn't know where to find it? Pool obviously needed painted and upgraded.
rebeca (6/5): - Everything was really ok, our room a bit outdated besides the theme of a “cabin” I think it was very overpriced for the experience we got
Sara (8/5): - Great weekend stay surrounded by wonderful area for outdoors activities.
Obaid (6/5): - The location is ideal everything is nearby. But the water was black and smelly and slimy. We called maintenance and they said its fix but after they left the water in the bathroom and hot tub was still disgusting. Overall experience is a 2/5
974charityf (4/5): Pass on hotel stay - Many issues with room: Fire alarm kept beeping, sink was clogged called to be fixed and it was not fixed. Couch cushions were torn and had burn holes. Bed had blood clolored stains on box spring. Shower head was patched up. Pull out sofa was springs so all had to squeeze into the 1 bed. The water park and food was okay. Bar in the back only had bottle or can products though advertised a lot more. The arcade and the mini golf saved the entire experience at this place though were not included as you have to pay for those things. If you are going to see the trails at the state park I suggest staying some place cheaper and cleaner.
amber (10/5): - We like that everything is all in one spot. Its big enough we dont get bored but not too big.
gilbert (10/5): - Gh
annabell (10/5): - Very nice and friendly staff.
Kira (2/5): - I purchased a Villa for 2 nights and the TV wasn't working the hot water took an hour to get hot. I have yet to receive any resolution towards this inconvenience.
tariqaU1628SC (10/5): Great place - Grand Bear Resort was a wonderful place to relax with the family. The atmosphere was peaceful, and having the state parks so close by made it easy to enjoy both the resort and nature
Wendy (2/5): - The property was OK greenery were brown and needed watered. The parking lot was clean of garbage.
Holly (10/5): - We had a great time we will definitely be back
rashmi (6/5): - Resort is just ok. We went with kids who had fun but the property seriously lacked in cleanliness and amenities. Even the toiletries in the room were so tiny. The water park is the only savior but that’s only cos we didn’t have to use the bathrooms attached to it. I would not go again.
Lucrecia (6/5): - The property needs some renovations (especially the bathrooms) both public and in the rooms. They should also offer free breakfast. My family and I ate at the only restaurant on property and it was not great and very expensive. How do you mess up breakfast? Everything was cold when it should have been hot or even just warm would have been nice. We were able to eat hot pancakes after I requested they make some fresh ones but even so, I feel the price was too expensive for just pancakes because that was the only thing worth eating and they weren't that great either. Definitely needs improvement for sure.
Baruch (4/5): - The water in the bathroom smelled like rotten eggs. It was digusting. Thankfully we only stayed one night. But having to bathe in water that smells like sewer water and leaves that smell on your skin was not a good experience. They said it was sulfur from well water.
Sanyuktadev (6/5): - It was ok...
Harshad (4/5): - Old facility, needs renovations and upgrades in room, bathrooms and flooring. Bed too high to get in and out. Lumpy old mattress. Stinky carpets. Single vanity which is May be 18” long!!
Mobile30723847196 (2/5): Don’t Go - The resort looked tired: black mold or mildew in the caulk of the showers of the bathrooms to the pool. Inaccurate times posted for the pool on the website and informational brochure we received at check-in. Jack’s Restaurant menu was much smaller than website menu. Our Villa was dusty, the floor was dirty, the beds had a crackling plastic mattress protector with the thinnest, polyester sheets, upstairs was hot and stuffy, the upstairs sink grumbled when the water was turned on, mold or mildew in the downstairs shower. My husband got a scratch on his ankle from a piece of metal sticking out from the bed frame.
Marius (6/5): - Good location, a short drive to Starved Rock and Matthiessen parks. The water park is a paradise for kids. Unfortunately, the bathrooms operate with well water that has a foul smell. Also, the wifi is spotty in the rooms, better in the lobby. The grounds need some TLC.
Bobby (8/5): - Location
Ivette (2/5): - Upon arriving and checking in everything was good. Then getting to the actual cabin experience I feel as though the rooms should be structured better and they should have more room options besides 3 rooms only for a 18 person stay. Also the pool area smelled very strong of chlorine and only enjoyed it one day because my skin broke out. My eyes were super irritated and couldn’t enjoy myself at the pool. Aside from the resort there isn’t much too do in the area besides the state park. The cabins only provided us with 2 garbage bags and about 6 clean towels. The miniature golf should be included for as boring as this place was.
Sergio (10/5): - The unit was very comfortable a lot of space all the beds were really comfort just the indoor water park wasn't as big as I thought
Mariana (10/5): - I really liked how spacious it was, the large windows, the beds were very comfortable, and above all, it was very quiet. It was an excellent place to relax. I just think some details need to be checked regarding cleaning. For example, the refrigerator and the dining room window didn't have a blind that could be closed for more privacy.
Noe (2/5): - bad service on from desk and restaurant so bad service .
brenda s (6/5): - The villa we stayed in was not stocked with the amount of dishes for the # of people. Silverware, cups, etc. Also they need to update their website as it still shows the Jacks amusement area still open and apparently it's been closed for lots of years. Some employees were not very helpful but a few went above and beyond so thank you for those few. I believe #1 guy was Nick he was awesome! And then a waitress at the restaurant was very good. Sorry, I don't remember her name. The restaurant on site also needs to update info. on website for sure, over priced for the quality of food. I don't mind paying for it if it's good but $12.00 for kids grilled cheese. Water park was nice and lifeguards do a great job!! Overall just needs to tweak a few areas. Not terrible. My grandkids had fun. But not 5 stars. 16 years ago it was 5 stars
Matt (8/5): - This was once a great hotel property. There are so many negative post that I will be posting more positive things. Yes other hotels like Great Wolf is slightly nicer but more expensive. The hotel for families with younger children is perfect. The kids love the Waterpark. The new bar is nice with hot gambling machines. Outside the putt putt golf is fun for the whole family and Bear Island is an adult favorite. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Great place to relax for the most part.
Verified traveler (6/5): - Things are really worn out and need updated. Just a mid experience.
Deysi (10/5): - Loved it great for all families
Janie (8/5): - My family and I stayed at this property from Monday to Friday. This type of place best serves families with small children. A weekend getaway at the most. I had my two 15yr old grandsons with me and the thrill was gone after a hour. The property overall was clean, I enjoyed the hot tub.in our room. The beds were comfortable. We had plenty of space it was six of us all together. We had a good time but we do not have small children we will not be coming back. The place is beautiful.
Martha (10/5): - Great stay
Jamie (8/5): - We loved the waterpark but were disappointed that some of it wasn't working. Loved that the hot tub was HOT. The breakfast buffet was expensive and not great.
Jennifer (8/5): - The property is older but clean and in good condition. The main building of the resort houses the water park, cafe’, bar and restaurant and the ‘hotel’ style rooms. The room we had was upstairs and over looked what was a volleyball court. This looked like it needed some work or grass laid around the court- there was a lot of gravel and not very appealing. The food in the restaurant was fair but not what the photos around the resort showed. The bar’s version of tapas was not what I would call tapas. The menu was small and varied from toasted raviolis (6 pieces) to southwestern egg rolls - which we did not get. The bed was comfortable and actually a queen sized bed! The staff at check-in weren’t ’overly friendly’. The younger guy in the morning at the cafe was about the only person with a personality. The resort location is close to the state parks. The small town of Utica was quaint and the ‘downtown’ area had outdoor seating. The resort is close to Ottawa to the east and LaSalle and Peru to the west. I would stay again but probably go off property for food.
Yi (6/5): - Good: cleanness, close to the park Bad: water is smelly
Kelly (6/5): OK for the price - It was clean but there were things that could have made the stay better. The vinyl flooring was cracked so we kept stubbing our toes and tripping. There weren’t enough kitchen items such as big bowls for popcorn or mixing things such as a salad. The hot water didn’t get hot enough and the faucets sprayed your body when turned on. The water park is definitely for little kids, not much to do for older kids. As a parent of 13 year olds and up I was not happy with how the younger kids were acting and nobody disciplining them. Parents let them just rip through the lazy river ramming into anyone in their way and splashing & yelling the whole time. It’s not a bad place for the price but could use some repairs and parents who parent.
Penny (4/5): - Near to hiking trails
Melanie (8/5): - Great stay close to our favorite hiking destinations. Our young kids loved the pool. The restaurant was convenient but the food wasn’t the best. Excellent service by all staff members we encountered!
Tamasha (10/5): - Perfect for families
Christopher (4/5): - Pretty run down hotel
Lyn (10/5): - I took my grandkids and they had a blast. The hotel was just what we were looking for. Super family friendly. We had a great time. The life gaurds on duty were spot on. It was great too see so many of them with their eyes everywhere. It gave me a great peace of mind knowing they were ready to jump into action at any time. My grands couldn't get enough of the water.
diana (2/5): - I checked in july 16th and the lady in the front desk was rude and not professional at all!! Very disappointed.
Isely (10/5): - The pool area was perfect for my small children
Joanna (10/5): - Right next to the state parks. Great property
Jessica (4/5): - Key cards didnt work after going to front desk 3x upon check in. Battery died in door. Took maintenance over an hour to fix. Manager had no sense of urgency and only texted maintenance to actually come. Dirty curtains - brown and black stains on the window side of them. Paid extra for patio. No patio chairs and the view was rubble/rocks in the back of the building. Waterpark left a lot to be desired. Floor of locker room always wet and slick. 2 days in a row someones wrist band was in same spot near kiddie pool rock so no one cleans. Found a few different hair accessories randomly in the water. Not much to do overall in waterpark and mostly all too shallow to do much. Arcade game ate our money and air hockey table had to be wacked by worker to evem drop the puck. Food at Jack's was awful and overpriced. Very limited menu. Internet worked only half the time and being on the lower level we had bad reception even with ATT and Verizon. Beds were comfy. Shower water pressure was weak and turning the nozzle didnt help the stream. Tv kept turning on multiple times after turning it off for the night. I reached out to hotel via email and facebook. They said that id hear from operations but also id have to re-explain everything. Goodie. Booked on expedia to do a partial deposit and pah remainer at check in. Deposit never came out. Chatted with expedia and they said talk to Grand Bear. I call Grand Bear and they say talk to Expedia. People were loud at night. Just no
Ruby (10/5): - It was amazing! The waterpark was clean and everyone was friendly.
Verified traveler (2/5): A waste of a Vacation for my Family - Once a year I take the family somewhere. This year we decided here. I called a few days ahead to see if we could get early check in for our cabin. On the phone I was told just let them know when you get there that you would like early check in. So my Son and I decided to show up around 1 (Check in was at 4) and get everything set up before the girls showed up. I went to the front desk and was told they could not help us and to come back around 3. So we went and found something to do for 2 hours and came back and told me it might not be ready till after 4 now. So I asked for a manager. She comes out and asks me for my phone number and what time the call was made when I asked for early check in. So 20 mins go by nothing and finally about 30 mins a guy comes up to me and says your cabin is ready. I said what happened he acted like nothing took place. And just shuffled me through the check in and out the door. So we get checked in, get in our cabin, girls show up and we go out for birthday dinner to the restaurant they have. We put our drink order in and our appetizers in and the appetizers come out but not i drinks our food comes out and still no drinks. also 2 of our orders they couldn't do because they were out of food! Going to have to cut this short not enough room to type the rest. But Went back the next morning and they gave our kid bad milk. In the end it was stressful and I will not be going back. So much more to add to this but no room to type. Stay away from this place
Douglas (4/5): - Room was well worn and not clean. Internet service was not available in the room. I had to leave the room and go to the lobby to do any simple work or send receive files. It was not a good experience.
Robert (6/5): - Room was clean, but lacking in its amenities. Had to ask for ice bucket, and blanket for pull out couch. We had no alarm clock or coffee machine. Morning breakfast was ok, definitely nothing to write home about and very limited menu.
kynleighv2025 (8/5): Amazing place come here - This is one of the best hotels I have been to. I just wish they would give us a paper of the tv channels. Also the pool is really fun I loved it with my family. But please just make sure the pull out beds are comfortable I barely could sleep on mine. Also the pull out bed looked broken.
Lakisha (4/5): - The person that check us in wasn't welcoming and after my stay I was double charged for the room that is taken longer to get resolved
Maria (8/5): - Everything was great except the carpet in the room, it felt sticky,your feet were dirty just from the carpet. I had to keep shoes
Morgan (8/5): - At check in the woman tried saying i owed over a $230 balance when i paid in full when booking. Shower was NOT clean and had soap scum buildup and you could feel thing's still on the shower shelves. Water also had a horrible rotten egg smell to it.
Jelena (4/5): - It
Mark (2/5): - Gave this place a second shot. Terrible from the dayshift staff, dirty out of date water park and the room on the same level to the parking lot had sliding patio doors that had been completely tore off (which no one knew about apparently)..Let staff know. They didn’t care. They did put us in a room directly across from it 45 minutes later. Towels in the room were wet. Asked to speak to a manager. None on duty. I did call the next day to speak with one. 4 days later. No response. Move on from this one
Daniel (6/5): - We truly did enjoy some aspects of our stay, and we appreciate the opportunity to visit your property. However, I wanted to share a few concerns that unfortunately impacted our experience: The floors were quite dirty—walking barefoot left our feet black. None of the fireplaces were working, which was disappointing. The water in the jetted tub came out yellow, so we weren’t comfortable using it. The sheets provided for the hide-a-bed were dirty, and the down stairs hide-a-bed was unusable. The fans upstairs were extremely loud and made it difficult to sleep. We completely understand that things can occasionally be missed, but given the number and nature of the issues, we feel a partial refund would be appropriate. We’re sharing this feedback in the hope it’s helpful for improving the experience for future guests. We’re sharing this feedback in the hope it’s .
michelle (2/5): - Fix the water smell. Make sure your guests have hand soap. Make sure they know about the $100 deposit before the stay.
Megan (6/5): Run down resort, but my daughter stil had fun. - I took my 7-year old daughter for two nights. She had fun at the water park and enjoyed the movie theater! The resort is run down though. The lobby and restaurant seemed updated, but the rooms, grounds and water park need some love.
Jacquelyn (8/5): - Great water park clean facilities and close to starved rock . Perfect place for families
Richard (6/5): - We called to see if we could check in a few hours early, the lady who answered the phone was extremely rude. Other then that it was excellent
Oscar (10/5): Best vacation spot in Illinois. - Great service,great place super friendly staff they have make me feel like home ……..thank you so much I had great time(housekeeping,front desk and especially the life guards very professional,grand bear resort just became my favorite vacation destination.
Marquette (4/5): Not so good experience 😕 - Super hot out with no A/C. The television didn't work in other rooms and we had no internet. They comped us free mini golf passes but ut still didn't make up for the experience.
Roving06212523383 (2/5): Bad experience—avoid - No matter what temperature we set in the room , it was still hot. The shower took forever to get hot, the water smelled, when walking down the hallway it smelled like cat urine. I was there for a convention, not enough food for the guests, the food was terrible and not hot enough. The wait staff they had, worked over time. Some of our adults within our group helped the staff serving food. Your resort needs to be updated. Judy