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Rooms and Guests2 Guests, 1 Room
Key details

About the Hotel

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

Grand Bear Resort At Starved Rock, a 3-star family-friendly hotel in Starved Rock State Park, features an indoor waterpark, amusement park and conference center encompassing 11000 square feet of meeting space.

Diverse Room Configurations

Guest rooms at Grand Bear Resort At Starved Rock include air conditioning, cable TV with premium channels, microwave, and refrigerator. Select accommodations offer a separate living room, patio, and fireplace.

Multiple Dining Venues

Jack's Place Restaurant & Bar serves American cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Treetops Cafe provides coffee, breakfast items and lunch options, while The Canyonside Bar offers drinks adjacent to mini-golf.

Entertainment Hub

The indoor water park complex includes a pool, lazy river, kiddie area, and hot tub. Recreational facilities feature an arcade with ticket redemption, outdoor miniature golf, laser tag, ropes course, and zip line.

State Parks Access

Grand Bear Resort At Starved Rock sits 1.5 miles from Deer Park Country Club and 1.5 miles from LaSalle County Historical Society & Museum. Matthiessen State Park and Buffalo Rock State Park offer nearby hiking opportunities.

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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
250 sq. feet 
Bed options:
2 King Size Beds
Shower
Heating
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Queen Room
Max:
6 persons
250 sq. feet 
Bed options:
2 King Size Beds
Shower
Heating
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Two-Bedroom Villa
Max:
9 persons
1605 sq. feet 
Bed options:
2 King Size Beds
Shower
Fireplace
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Price and Room Availability Calendar

Check availability and prices for your dates now!

Getting around

Available transportation options

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

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
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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
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.
44%
enjoyed the hotel and would happily return
Spacious cabin
Proximity to hiking
Bed bug issues
Inadequate service
5.0/10
Guest rating
Rooms
5.0
Location
6.8
Service
5.0
Dining
5.0
Guest reviews
5.0/10
based on 5 reviews
7.3
7.3/10 based on 193 reviews
Hal
United States of America, February  2025
5.0/10

My family's recent visit to Grizzly Jack’s was a rollercoaster of emotions. While the indoor waterpark was a highlight and not too crowded, our overall experience was marred by issues with bed bugs and lack of support from the staff. Although we had some fun moments, I wouldn't recommend this place due to the serious cleanliness concerns and the inadequate response from management.

Rooms
5.0
Unfortunately, the cleanliness of our cabin was a major issue, especially after discovering bed bug bites.
Service
5.0
Service was lacking. The front desk staff seemed overwhelmed and unhelpful when we reported the bed bug situation and didn't provide timely solutions.
Location
Dining
Facilities
5.0
The waterpark was enjoyable and had various attractions, but overall the facilities seemed in need of repairs and a thorough cleaning.
Hannah
United States of America, November  2024
5.0/10

We just returned from a weekend at the resort, and while there were some fun moments, it wasn’t without its challenges. The family-friendly atmosphere and engaging water park were highlights for the kids, but cleanliness in our room and some dining experiences left much to be desired. The overall value seemed fair, but issues like bedbugs can't be overlooked and certainly dampened our stay.

Rooms
5.0
The room was spacious, but unfortunately, it had cleanliness issues. When we arrived, there was a foul odor, and the headboards looked unkempt. It felt like it needed a good update.
Service
5.0
The staff tried to be helpful, but our issues with room cleanliness seemed to fall on deaf ears. It felt like there was a lack of follow-up on our complaints.
Location
7.0
The location is decent, particularly with the quick access to hiking and outdoor activities nearby. However, the water park layout felt cramped, with slides that were a bit too fast for the little ones.
Dining
5.0
Dining at the on-site restaurant was quite disappointing. The food was overpriced for the quality, and service was lacking.
Facilities
6.0
The water park facilities were fun and engaging for our children, but cleanliness in these areas could definitely be improved.
John
United States of America, October  2024
5.4/10

My recent stay at Grizzly Jack's was a mixed bag. While the waterpark offered a fun escape and we enjoyed some good family bonding time there, the cleanliness and dining options left much to be desired. On the downside, I encountered a serious issue with bed bugs which overshadowed our experience significantly. Overall, I’d say the place has potential but there's a lot of room for improvement to warrant a return visit.

Rooms
6.0
The villa we stayed in was spacious and accommodated our family well, but it could definitely use some refurbishing and a deeper cleaning.
Service
5.0
The service was lacking especially during the bed bug situation; it felt like the staff didn't handle the issue professionally.
Location
7.0
The resort is well-situated near hiking options which is a big plus, but navigating around the property felt a bit confusing.
Dining
5.0
Dining options were quite limited and we found several food outlets closed, which was disappointing given our expectations.
Facilities
7.0
The waterpark was a highlight and relatively clean, but other facilities seemed to lack maintenance.
Peter
United States of America, October  2024
5.0/10

My recent stay was fraught with issues, primarily related to a serious bed bug problem that overshadowed any potential positives. Despite the spacious cabins and engaging activities for the kids, the service fell short in handling the situation effectively. The location had its perks, especially with its proximity to outdoor areas, but the experience was marred by the unsatisfactory dining options and the overall handling of the property’s cleanliness.

Rooms
5.0
We were given a spacious cabin, but the cleanliness left much to be desired, especially with the bed bug infestation that caused numerous bites on my body.
Service
5.0
The service, particularly in addressing the bed bug issue, was lacking. The staff seemed overwhelmed and unhelpful in resolving our concerns, which only added to our frustration.
Location
7.0
Located near outdoor activities, which was a highlight of our trip. Starved Rock State Park is just a short drive away, providing great hiking opportunities.
Dining
5.0
The food options were unsatisfactory; we faced delays and unavailability of meals, which took away from our overall experience.
Facilities
5.0
While the indoor waterpark and recreational activities were appealing, the overall maintenance of the facilities did not reflect the expectations set by the resort’s promotional material.
Spacious cabin
Bed bug issues
Bob
United States of America, September  2024
5.0/10

Our stay at Grizzly Jack's was quite the experience, unfortunately leaning towards disappointing. While the spacious accommodations had potential, our experience was marred by cleanliness issues and underwhelming facilities. The staff was friendly, but the lack of adequate dining options and the surprise of a bed bug situation really took away from what should have been a family getaway. Overall, we felt that the value for what we received was not up to par, leaving us unlikely to return.

Rooms
5.0
The accommodations were spacious but quite outdated. We encountered cleanliness issues, including a concerning bed bug problem.
Service
5.0
The staff was friendly and tried to assist with our issues. However, their lack of effective resolutions was frustrating.
Location
6.0
The location is decent, as it's close to outdoor activities and Starved Rock, but it didn't fully compensate for our issues.
Dining
5.0
Dining options were limited with poor food quality. We didn't find the meals worth the money we spent.
Facilities
5.0
Facilities were lacking, especially the pool area which was not as clean as expected, detracting from our family experience.
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Rooms and Guests2 Guests, 1 Room