Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock

3.0 star property

Photo gallery for Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock

Indoor pool, open 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, lifeguards on site
Terrace/patio
Breakfast and dinner served, American cuisine
Luxury Cabin, 3 Bedrooms
Luxury Cabin, 3 Bedrooms | Living area

Reviews

7.4 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Spa pool
  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
2643 IL-178, Utica, IL, 61373
  • Place, Starved Rock State Park
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Matthiessen State Park
    ‪11 min walk‬
  • Place, Mix's Trading Post
    ‪3 min drive‬

Room options

Family Suite with Balcony, 2 Queen Beds with Sofa Bed

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

Villa, 2 Bedrooms

7.8 out of 10
Good
(24 reviews)
  • 167 sq m
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 9
  • 1 King Bed, 1 Single Sofa Bed, 2 Queen Beds and 1 Queen Sofa Bed

Luxury Cabin, 3 Bedrooms

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • 260 sq m
  • 3 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 18
  • 1 King Bed, 1 Large Single Sofa Bed, 2 Queen Beds, 2 Queen Bunk Beds, 2 Single Bunk Beds and 1 Queen Sofa Bed

Family Suite with Balcony, 2 Queen Beds with Sofa Bed

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

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Hot Tub

7.0 out of 10
Good
(13 reviews)
  • 37 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Deluxe Suite

  • Hill view
  • 46 sq m
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 7
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Queen Beds

Family Room, Multiple Beds

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 Queen Bed, 1 Single Bunk Bed and 1 Single 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 - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park - 1 min drive - 0.0 km
  • Mix's Trading Post - 3 min drive - 3.2 km
  • Buffalo Rock State Park - 10 min drive - 11.6 km

Getting around

  • Mendota Station - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Cortileno’s - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Garzanelli's - ‬8 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 a free water park, 4-minute walk to Starved Rock State Park
Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock offers 92 accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Accommodations offer separate sitting areas. 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 separate sitting areas and coffee/tea makers.
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.

Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transport

  • Free self parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking

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)
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone
  • Separate sitting area

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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

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
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

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

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
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. 348 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 248 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 192 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 103 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 110 out of 1001 reviews

7.6/10

Cleanliness

7.8/10

Staff & service

7.0/10

Amenities

7.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Lakisha

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Amenities
Rooms was okay staff was really rude
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

Nina

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
We went for the water park. We had about 2 hours in the morning to spend there and the majority of the pool was closed due to a filter issue.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

2/10 Terrible

Janet

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Amenities
The staff at the Grand Bear Resort informed me that the water park, fitness center and bar/restaurant services were closed until the weekend. This was not disclosed on your website! She also informed me that the cost of the room was $92 that evening however I paid $121 via your website service. I found all of this unacceptable. I am extremely unhappy and would appreciate a refund for the difference. There also should be an update in your website regarding so others do not fall prey to this unfortunate issue. Respectfully, Janet Bush
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

2/10 Terrible

Linda

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities
Staff they weren’t available to give me my 2 box of breakfast. On top of that the staff accused me of lieing when I tried to dispute it!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

Byron

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Caitilin

Travelled with family
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
EVERYTHING WAS WRONG, would like a refund. 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.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Ronald

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Trina

Travelled with partner
Room was nice but the restaurant didn’t have the food on the menu had to leave and go out for dinner. Went to breakfast next morning and it wasn’t ready because of staff issues once again left and went out for breakfast elsewhere. Bar was closed in a Saturday because of staff issue. Movie night was also cancelled. We were so disappointed with staff not seeming to care about our complaints. Would not recommend this hotel/resort at all !!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

DEBORAH, merrillville

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kent

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Jenni

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
The check in desk was very nice . The room was nice and spacious but the bathroom was very small. The tv was small and had a very limited selection with no ability to stream any apps on the tv. The restaurant, jacks place had an extremely limited menu and the quality was lacking. The food was fresh but flavorless and bland
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shatish

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was good but the some of the electrical plugs didn’t work
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

MONIKA

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Heat in the room didn’t work. and keys to the room didn’t work.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gary

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Good place for family fun and good prices.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Megan

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
I loved that there was an arcade and mini golf. Most hotels is just standard and boring
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Giuseppe

Disliked: Staff & service
I had originally booked for indoor water park and arcade to find out at arrival everything was closed until the weekend. The manager provided terrible service, didn’t want to provide me with my check out paperwork stating how much I was charged.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Leland

Disliked: Staff & service
There was no pool access that was only for certain days and there was no breakfast amenities
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Richard

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Dale

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Jim, Holland

Disliked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Matthew

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Julie

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
Restaurants closed, pool closed, no coffee in a.m. as advertised, hair dryer didn’t work, bathroom door didn’t close tight or stay open when opened, poor quality tv, no hotel information in room, staff seemed indifferent to concerns
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Angela

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
parking lot was ok and husband loved the gym . We had fun miniature golfing and really just enjoyed ourselfs . The place is older and a little outdated but we just enjoyed ourselves away.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

John

Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities
Just across the street from Starved State Park! Several restaurants in Utica about 2 miles away!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Julie

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
T
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025