Did the home tour thing, listened to the sales staff spiel...Homes prices and taxes are outrageous!…read moreHome quality is mediocre at best. It's the Illinois river people! This isn't prime real estate.

Crew prepared us for the trip, had everything prepared. Everything on board worked properly and…read morehelped us unload upon arriving back at the dock.

The staff are friendly but this place needs an upgrade…read more Please be aware that there are no elevators. This is a rustic experience without a tent. The bathroom and kitchen fixtures are all mismatched brands. The fridge and stove/oven are top tier but the dishwasher in bldg 1 room 205 doesn't work. Be sure to bring your preferred bug spray. The property is massive so you can get in lots of walking or running. When you go out get EVERYTHING you need because the closest options are 20 miles or better away. Mostly everything closes super early so if you're arriving after 4 depending on how long it takes you to settle in you may need to pay- Unfortunately it's closing October 2025. Locals say it will become a Hilton property. If that happens I foresee the water park being closed.

Don't even get me started. First of all, they give you a…read morepaper warning you of their bug infestation. When people go on vacation they want peace, they don't want to crush bugs all fucking day. And I thought maybe it wouldn't affect my family and I, but I was wrong. It's true there are ladybugs and stink bugs all over the place. Especially after you use the bathroom and it gets all humid. Showers are a damn mess. The shower head has the worst pressure I've ever experienced in any hotel. This disgrace of a place tried to cut cost everywhere. Everything is outdated it's outrageous. By the way, there are no gyms (which is a stable for all holiday inns/vacation hotels) and no breakfast. You cheap motherfuckers. Barely any soap in the bathrooms and had to ask multiple times for shampoo (which took 3 hours to arrive). And all the buildings are split apart meaning you have to drive everywhere.. This is not even the worst. No where in the website does it inform you of the waterpark being inaccessible on the weekdays. You're also charged to use the waterpark. The TV is small and glitchy. Can't even use Netflix on it cause it's so goddamn old. They offer room service only after 10 DAYS. And then they wonder why people complain about the filth. Every room needs cleaning often to maintain its cleanliness. I mean the hallways smelled like cheese and people left out their towels after swimming in the hallways for the custodians to pick up. So imagine that smell of used towels and the clutter. All of this because the hotel refuses to clean people's rooms. In the middle of nowhere so we can't get nothing but pizza. All the few five star reviews are phony cause nothing is good about this place. The internet connection is so bad that my phone went off SOS. In the middle of nowhere so hard to get to any good food because they don't serve breakfast at all. Don't come unless you like: -Stink bugs, lady bugs, and box elders -Overpriced waterpark -crappy showers -no gym -slow customer service (because of lack of workers) -smelly hallways -no food around/trashy food -Terrible TV -Horrible internet

**THERE'S A REASON THEIR FACEBOOK REVIEWS ARE DISABLED!**…read more Thank goodness I booked through Expedia and not directly with the resort. We were in town for my son's soccer tournament and decided to stay an extra night to break up the drive home. Grand Bear Resort looked like a perfect, affordable "mini water park" getaway for our two young boys. Before booking and knowing that it was this areas off season, I checked the resort's website and even called their reservation desk to confirm the water park was open during the entirety of our stay. I was assured it was. After FOUR hours of driving, we arrived around 7pm only to be told the water park was closed. Not only that, but the mini-golf and arcade were also shut down. Staff admitted their website wasn't updated because they "can't get a hold of the guy," and said their reservation team (based out of Chicago) didn't know about the closures. How are the people responsible for booking rooms com pletely unaware that all the amenities are closed? We weren't alone...multiple families in the lobby had the exact same story. The scene was full of frustrated parents and disappointed, crying kids. What really made this unacceptable was the resort's response. They refused to refund the stay and even pushed back when Expedia stepped in, despite clearly advertising amenities that weren't available. Thankfully, Expedia stood behind their customer and issued us a full refund, even offering to help us find another place to stay since while we were still six hours from home. I've never seen such an obvious bait-and-switch marketing scheme. We ended up staying at a Fairfield Inn & Suites with a tiny pool--but excellent customer service. Shame on you, Grand Bear Resort. This is not how you fill rooms.

My family and I stayed here over Easter weekend and had a wonderful time. We stayed in a villa,…read moreC-3. Small issue with the villa. The villa sleeps 10 people MAX, but it was only 3 wine glasses, 8 regular drinking glasses and no champagne glasses. If 10 people were here, everyone couldn't drink water or wine, again small problem, not a deal breaker. Also all the ceiling fans squeak when turned on. The beds were soft and comfortable even the pull out sofa beds throughout the villa. The hotel staff were very friendly and welcoming. The master suite balcony door was stuck, we called the front desk and within 15 minutes maintenance came and fixed the door. Walmart is 16 minutes away and Target is about 4 minutes from Walmart. The waterpark was great. My 6 year old and 2 year old daughters throughly enjoyed themselves. The lazy river was great, the wave pool was awesome. The kids enjoyed the water slides. Overall, it was a great family getaway. Not too far from Chicago, but close enough for us to definitely return.

We stayed for 2 nights before Christmas Eve. First of all the pros. Every staff member or server we…read moreinteracted with were exceptional. Check in was easy. There is a choice of 3 places to eat in the main lodge, although the café does close at 5 p.m. in the winter, which still leaves 2 choices available. But it's very nice to be able to park your car and leave it for the duration instead of braving winter weather. Sandwiches and burgers are pricey; the main dining room entrees for dinner are about what one would expect pricewise.* The atmosphere is very rustic and the public areas were beautifully decorated for the holidays which lent a very festive touch. The roaring fire in the Great Room is a huge hit with plenty of seating areas. The dining room fireplace is also beautiful. There were several jigsaw puzzles out on the tables, but the games that were advertised as being available were nowhere in sight. *On our first night in the main dining room my husband ordered the 1/2 duck. He loves duck. It was very over cooked and dry, so much so that he had to leave 1/2 of it since he couldn't even cut it. One should also be aware that dinners do not come with salads, which we are accustomed to. My bourbon pecan glazed salmon was out of this world good as was the chicken picatta the next night. The cons. As the website and brochures fully explain, this is an OLD hotel. And it shows signs of it's age. Public restrooms had lots of rust and just not the crispy clean I like to see in a stay away from home. The rooms were nice and the pillows were actually soft, but again, signs of aging are evident in the tub, vanity, etc. Shampoo and soap/shower gel are provided, but there aren't the usual amenities like plastic or even glass glasses. Just some Styrofoam coffee cups. We were able to ask for some plastic cups at the front desk. No makeup wipes, hand lotions, hair conditioner, etc. AND, the bathrooms in the rooms are not heated nor do they have bath fans to take away the steam. And as already stated, it's not crispy new and clean. I think of importance to note is that if someone in your party uses a walker or cane, or has trouble with balance, the areas that have the natural stone floors, although beautiful to look at, are extremely uneven and would be extra tricky. I know my elderly friends could not have navigated it without help. This includes the main lobby and an area near the Great Room and main dining room. We chose a special winter price that included two $15 vouchers towards breakfast, which ends at 10:30 a.m. I would much more appreciate a $15 voucher per day that could be used at any time of the day for food. Some people are not breakfast eaters. And others, like myself, have insomnia, so if you don't get to sleep until 4 a.m., it's a given that I'm not going to be ready to eat a breakfast by 10:30. What's the big deal? Food is food, and allowing a voucher to be used at the guest's desired time would be a much greater value. So we were not able to take advantage of essentially $30 of free food. We were truly looking forward to just a completely chill out afternoon, sitting by the fireplace to read or people watch, enjoying a glass of wine or coffee. Unfortunately the Great Room doesn't always live up to its "great" expectations. A group of approximately 25-30 people including MANY children took over one corner of the Great Room. The children (and parents) decided it was OK to let their children run ragged in the attached private space (which is blocked off on the front end stating it was a private event area) screaming and screeching their shoes, and running up and down the hallways. I even heard one of the moms say, "OK, let's go run again." So much for peace and quiet. I had a woman stop me in an adjacent hallway to tell me that we were raised to have respect when we were young, and children and young adults these days have none. She reported almost being run over on the stairs and had to step aside to let the naughty children continue running down the hall as parents remained oblivious. Other couples came to sit down for a minute, and after observing what was going on shook their heads and left. So much for peace and serenity. I did note the day before that a family had rented a private room for a get together, and that seems like it should be the norm if you truly want the rest of your guests to enjoy their time. A bit later when my husband made a trip to the restroom down the hallway, he overheard someone arguing with staff about a complaint received and being told "this was their Christmas." Well, it was everybody else's Christmas too. The children weren't at a gymnasium and it really soured our experience. If your children are taught that it's OK to behave that way, then they should have probably chosen a more kid-friendly venue where running and screaming is acceptable. Overall, would we go back? I'm not sure. I love rustic and I loved the cozy ambiance. But I also like sparkly clean.

Beautiful setting. The lodge is amazing and so very typical of the type built by the CCC in the…read more1930's. Enjoyed some delicious food in a cozy dining room. Bar room available as well. Then take a walk to burn off that comfort-food type meal!

Stay here over the Lodge! A wedding was at Starved Rock and we opted to not stay on site and stay…read morehere and so glad that we did! It was spacious and updated and close to everything! I saw a room at the lodge and it was very old and not nearly as nice as this! Parking was easy and we walked to breakfast the next morning.

We stayed one day last week. Very clean and so close to everything in Utica. We will definitely…read morecome back!

Beautiful and peaceful retreat. The cabin we rented was dog friendly ($25 additional fee per dog),…read morewhich is perfect because the point of our getaway was to spend time with our corgi and to take her hiking. Check-in was at 4. It was self check-in and super easy. The cabin was clean, and everything was in order. The office was closed by the time we got unloaded so we didn't go. It is open for guests to borrow movies or puzzles or purchase firewood. We met one of the owners the following day. Very friendly and lovely lady! I forgot my hair dryer and she lent me one. There were trees surrounding the cabin area, a swing on the front porch, a grill and picnic table in the backyard, and there is a 2-person jetted tub along with a shower stall inside. It had such a comfortable feel to it. Full kitchen and a table for 4, a small TV and a blu-ray player, and a comfortable full sized bed. The couch was a futon, so if you need another bed, it's ready to go! There was enough space to set up our large crate for our dog. We stayed at the Zonta cabin. Overall, I had such an enjoyable time. Nothing beats waking up early in the morning to some fresh, cool air, the trees swaying gently and a nice stroll with the doggo away from traffic and car horns honking and people hurrying to get to places. I got a lot of peaceful reading time done, about 4 hours' worth of hiking in 2 days, and worked on some puzzles we borrowed from the office. I absolutely recommend this cabin resort for a relaxing getaway!

My friend and I spent two nights recently in one of the smaller cabins, looking for a peaceful,…read morecountry-oriented break from the big city. I'm very happy to report that Kishauwau's cabin fit the bill nicely. Kishauwau is what I've been describing as a cabin development. There are about 15-16 cabins in an area that backs up to the Vermillion River. In fact, the ravines behind some of the cabins are very steep. Anyone with small children will have to keep a close eye on the kids every minute they're out back. The scenery is spectacular, but oh boy, you don't want anyone sliding down that ravine. Our cabin had all the basics we needed -- a double bed, a fold-out futon couch, a big bathtub with a separate shower, and a kitchen stocked with plates, silverware, pots and pans, dishwashing liquid, and more. Every cabin has a outdoor fire ring, a grill, a porch swing, chairs, and a picnic table. The larger cabins had several chairs and tables. We had a TV with a DVD player -- you can borrow DVDs from the plentiful supply in the office building. NO INTERNET! If you can't live without access to instragram, you will be out of luck. So, be sure to plan ahead for ways to entertain yourself. I should also mention that the cabin was spotlessly clean when we arrived. The grounds are neat and well-maintained. The office has simple supplies for sale such as toothpaste, shampoo, etc., along with some snacks and drinks. There is also a small gift shop. I've already recommended Kishauwau to two friends here in Chicago. I'm very happy to recommend it to you, too.

We had a good stay at this HIE. Staff were all very pleasant. Lobby, hallways, elevator and room…read morewere all very clean. Lots of seating areas and a business center in the lobby. Three luggage carts in the vestibule. Free parking around building with handicap and Diamond elite spots by the door. We reserved our spots thru their app where we are able to add room preference details and we got just what we like. Bed was comfortably firm with four pillows and soft sheets. Bathroom products are multi-use mounted on wall near sink and in shower. As with our last HIE, I'm not convinced the bottle label reflects the contents there in. JMHO. Two sets of towels for a room that sleeps four. Tissues, plenty of toilet tissue. Plenty of hot water. Water pressure is fine, not powerful, not wimpy. Showerhead has spray pattern options. Tub-shower combo. A fridge, microwave, coffee service and ice bucket with cups is just inside the room. Coat hooks are over the built in luggage rack. There is space under the luggage rack to store any bags not in use or shoes. Heat (in October) worked well and was quiet. Room includes a closet with doors, three draw dresser and work space. One bedside table between two queen beds have 2 plugs. Besides desk chair one sytlish seat and a side table are near the window. Big flat screen TV. Breakfast starts at 5am and the spread was very good. Oatmeal, scrambled eggs, omlette, sausages, potatoes, cinnamon rolls, toaster items, cold cereal, yogurts, small bottles of milk, coffee, tea, cocoa, juice and a pancake maker. The hostess was very cheerful and chatty and kept the area very clean.

What a beautiful and clean updated modern room! It was pristine and the room was spacious. The…read morefront desk employees were polite

It was a nice room and served it's purpose. We were greeted when we arrived and explained…read moreeverything we needed to know about our short stay. The beds were comfortable and the pillows were really soft. The shower curtain was on the rod backwards. The tub didn't have grips so it was slippery. If passing through and needed to stop for the night I would stay again.

Very nice hotel.... but the breakast is just awful! Overcooked eggs!…read more The hot tub jets have no force....no bubbling. Pool temperature was perfect!

This is a budget hotel. Very basic amenities. If you want fancy, this is not for you…read more For those of you still here, this is our experience. Check-in was friendly and effecient. Show ID and credit card, fill in a form (car type, color, tag), sign, keys. Breakfast is 6am-9am. Our room, on the ground floor, was at the end of the hall. I passed a set of stairs but not an elevator. Doesn't mean there isn't one - it just wasn't on my route. The hall carpet could use a shampoo, but otherwise everything was clean and tidy. The lobby has a seat and a couple of desks, one with a computer and printer. There is also drinking water and an atm. The breakfast room right off the lobby is closed outside of breakfast hours. We had a double queen room. Electronic key cards are tapped to open the door. Inside is a bolt lock and a latch. The door has a peep hole. The sink is right inside the door with a toilet/shower directly across, behind a door. There is no place to hang toiletry bags and limited counter space. A bar of soap was at the sink and in the shower. Next to the sink is a space to hang clothes w/an iron, board and luggage rack, open to the room. The beds were comfortable as were the pillows. The bed included one soft blanket which was enough as the room was plenty warm. Some of the furniture was a bit worse for wear, but it seems clean. The metal lamps have plug ports in the base and are very light, so hold on to the lamp when you plug anything in! There are not many plugs around the room and only one night stand between the two beds. Good sized desk area. Plenty of hot water and good shower pressure. Towels are a good weight for the price point, soft and clean TV is on a dresser with two drawers at the bottom, a small fridge, microwave and coffee maker. An ice bucket is by the sink. An ice machine is down the hall just past the lobby. Our first impression, arriving very tired, was less than enthusiastic. But in the end everything was fine. Warm. Comfortable bed. Good shower. That's what I'm here for. At breakfast they offer coffee from a machine: press what type you want (dark, medium, light, decaf, water) and hold the button until your cup is about 3/4 full. After you let go, the coffee keeps coming. Tea bags are available next to the cups. The coffee was good. There is a fridge with milk, small yoplait yogurts in two flavors and cream cheese. A waffle making set up is next to the fridge. Bagels, english muffins, some other type of muffin and one danish were available at 7am. A 4 slot toaster did a good job toasting the bagel. Butter and jam are near the waffles. Two types of cold cereal and packets of instant oatmeal were also available. Plenty of parking on 3 sides of the building. Close to the highway, a gas station, and plenty of restaurants and two grocery stores. Guest laundry available. Staff were friendly and I got some rest and caffiene before getting back on the road while saving some money.

Came here for one night for starve rock marathon, Bedbugs in both rooms, smells like smoke and…read morecurry, no lights in back parking lot and not alot of space in front parking lot, did get a full refund thankfully.