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The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing

Villa with kitchen, steps from Starved Rock State Park

Photo gallery for The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing

Interior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
2 bedrooms, WiFi, bed sheets
Exterior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Grand Bear Vacation Resort is a comfortable retreat close to Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks. Furnished with rustic touches, this two-bedroom villa features a fully equipped kitchen, laundry, and relaxing Jacuzzi tub. With cable TV and WiFi provided upstairs in the living room with animal mounts adding to the cabin feel.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 61800 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Washer

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing

Villa with kitchen, steps from Starved Rock State Park
Access to hot tub, laundry facilities and a garden are available at this smoke-free villa. The villa provides a kitchen with a fridge, an oven, a stovetop and a microwave. Guests can appreciate conveniences, such as 2 bathrooms and a washing machine, and other amenities include a balcony and a dining area.
Air-conditioned accommodation at this villa offers coffee/tea makers and a hairdryer. Rooms open to balconies. Kitchens offer fridges, stovetops, microwaves and separate dining areas.

Bathrooms include a shower. Smart televisions are featured in guestrooms.

Recreational amenities at the villa include Access to hot tub.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on-site or nearby; fees may apply.

Property amenities

Pool/Spa

  • Hot tub

Internet

  • Available in the villa: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1,800 square feet

Similar properties

Exterior

Modern Comfort Meets Natural Beauty: Your Perfect Getaway Near Starved Rock!

  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, 227 reviews
Modern Comfort Meets Natural Beauty: Your Perfect Getaway Near Starved Rock!

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

Events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit 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
Parties and events are allowed on site
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

About the area

Map
UTICA, IL

What's nearby

  • Starved Rock State Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Matthiessen State Park - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park - 1 min drive - 0.4 km
  • August Hill Winery Tasting Room - 3 min drive - 3.9 km
  • Buffalo Rock State Park - 9 min drive - 11.9 km

Getting around

  • Mendota Station - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Garzanelli's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Rootbeer Stand - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Cortileno’s - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Casey's - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing located?

Situated in Utica, this villa is within a 5-minute walk of Starved Rock State Park and Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park. Matthiessen State Park and Mix's Trading Post are also within 2 miles (3 km).

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Reviews

The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

9.4

Cleanliness

9.8

Location

10

Staff & service

10

Eco-friendliness

9.6

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 121 out of 133 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 133 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 133 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 133 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 133 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Joelle R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect for Hiking Trip

This made a great home base for hiking in starved rock and Matthiessen State parks. It was clean and well stocked.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jason

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Really enjoyed my stay! Great host and property.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Catherine C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great trip for the family

Nice and clean, close to parks and great hiking
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Samantha

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Amazing property. Will be staying again.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alden H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bear’s Den/Starved Rock

Property was just as listed. Convenient location and comfortable accommodations. Recommend this property to anyone looking to stay near Starved Tock.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing stay

Cozy cabin, very spacious! Kitchen worked wonderfully and we were very close to the state park
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Garrett G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful Family Retreat

We had a great stay at this beautiful condo in Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock State Park! The home was well-kept, clean, and access was easy. We would recommend to others and hope to come back!
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family get away

Condo was nice and had plenty of room. Great location!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alison K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great option for staying at the resort with family

This was perfect for a family of four, with kids sharing the room with two beds. There is a shared upstairs bathroom with access from both sides, and the main bedroom has an additional sink with a lot of counter space which is great. Then there is a downstairs bathroom. We had friends over for game night around the dining room table. The host left us plenty of bottled water and snacks too. If you are looking at staying at the resort, this makes a lot of sense as an option!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gary B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great getaway

We enjoyed the stay. We found all the amenities very useful. The pictures are accurate of the location. We're hoping to come back next year.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stephen G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Construction superintendent

Nice place, mark was very friendly and helpful.Nice location.
Stayed 31 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelsey B.

Cozy, fully-stocked home away from home

This place is fantastic. It more than lived up to my expectations. Fresh fruit and muffins waiting for us, tons of pots/pans and dishes, and plenty of snacks in the cabinet. Felt like a second home. Thank you!!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Rachel B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent location and amenities

Villa was well equipped. Host had a case of water bottles which was great given how hot it was over the 4th of July weekend. He also had 2 4 packs of muffins and bananas on the dining table. There was a card table and 4 chairs in addition to the 6 chairs around the dining table. We had family members staying in the campground and another Villa but we met for lunch in our unit and it worked out great. The kitchen island was great for serving. We used paper plates but there were two sets of dishes that you could use and a dishwasher. The beds were comfortable (squeaked a bit on getting in). Bathrooms were clean and spacious. Had extra towels if you needed them. TVs had ample show listings and the internet worked well. There was an open grass area opposite where we played baseball and the back of the Villa was a nice shaded grass area where we played as well. Wear shoes as there are walnuts on the ground.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nathan V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Close but not to close

The place was well taken care of and bigger than the pictures made it seem plenty of indoor and outdoor space to play and not to far from the amenities of local towns
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

6/10 Okay

MICHELL L.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Hiking trip

Enjoyed location and size for 2 couples. One of the bathrooms were downstairs; so not very convenient. Very dirty; so that was a bummer and gross. Nice location and size
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Threat place

We loved everything about our stay. Or a bit disappointed that we were not able to use the fireplace however, we understand now with the history of the fire. Would be nice if the listing was changed, the order more accurately reflect that as we were looking forward to a fireplace. Otherwise everything was great. Left our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

Lauryn K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

September Stay at The Bear Den

Generally speaking we had a nice stay here, but there were a few things we were unaware of, the first being that The Bear Den is located in a resort. We were thinking it was a bit more tucked away and remote. Regardless, we had a very peaceful stay and the proximity to the parks/downtown is ideal. This spot would be perfect for a family with kids. We also didn't realize just how much taxidermied animals were part of the decor: there were considerably more heads and animal displays than in the listing photos. Might not bother some folks but we're city dwellers so it was a little startling and spooky, especially in the dark. Other than a few cobwebs and the wifi network being listed incorrectly on the info. sheets (we figured it out), it was a nice stay with perfectly adequately accommodations, including clean bathrooms, comfortable beds and spacious bedrooms. Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tena G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun weekend getaway

Quiet and super clean. Highly recommended!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Emily R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend Getaway

Clean, cozy, comfy! Relaxing weekend, mark left muffins and water for us as well, that was greatly appreciated!!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mickey B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Heaven on Earth

My week long stay at this Villa was beyond fantastic. The host was a pleasure to communicate with. I couldn't have asked for a more peaceful Christmas vacation. The host graciously provided a gift of water, bananas and cookies, as well as the villa to call home for the week. I most definitely recommend staying here.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

IVAN A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Place to Stay

Great Place to Stay when visiting Starved Rock
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

stay

Mark is wonderful
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Arlene S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Anniversary

Very clean and comfortable. Great experience
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Getaway

Came to get away from work and see family.... really beautiful place
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Melissa N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful quiet place to stay

We had a wonderful stay at this location. The host was responsive, and provided the property details very timely. He welcomed us with some muffins, bananas, coffee, and bottled water which was very much appreciated. The place was very spacious with the bedrooms upstairs and the living space downstairs which was really nice so that the people who were up didn't disturb those that were sleeping. The location is very close to both Starved Rock and Mathiesson State Park. We would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024