Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock
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Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock Photos
About This Vendor
Weddings at Grand Bear Resort!
Nestled in natural beauty of Starved Rock State Park - one of the most breathtaking places in Illinois - Grand Bear Resort is a beautiful destination for special events, banquets, receptions and wedding celebrations. Our spectacular resort features over 11,000 square feet of versatile event space that bring people together in fun ways. Host your family reunions, holiday parties, corporate banquets and wedding receptions in a scenic atmosphere in the Illinois Northwoods. Nestled in natural beauty of Starved Rock State Park - one of the most breathtaking places in Illinois - Grand Bear Resort is a beautiful destination for special events, banquets, receptions and wedding celebrations. Our base package price starts at $103 per person. *based on market price. If you want to find out more fill out the form, we would love to have you for a tour!
Amenities & Details
Ceremony Area, Dressing Room, Handicap Accessible, Indoor Event Space, Liability Insurance, On-Site Accommodations, Outdoor Event Space, Reception Area, Wireless Internet
Guest CapacityUp to 300
Ceremony TypesCivil Union, Commitment Ceremony, Elopement, Interfaith Ceremony, Non-Religious Ceremony, Religious Ceremony, Second Wedding, Vow Renewal Ceremony
Venue Service OfferingsBar & Drinks, Cakes & Desserts, Destination Weddings, Destination Wedding Packages, Destination Wedding Planning, Food & Catering, Planning, Se Habla Español, Rentals & Equipment, Service Staff
SettingsBallroom, Garden, Hotel, Park, Restaurant, Trees
Business AttributesPricing for Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock
| Option | Value |
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| Starting Cost | Affordable |
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Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock Reviews
Marilyn Frasl (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-05-2020
While the venue was absolutely stunning and very family friendly, my (now) husband and I weren't able to have our wedding ceremony or reception at Grand Bear. Holly was such a pleasure to work with and I wish we could've kept their location for our wedding! Due to covid-19, Grand Bear had to close it's doors for a while and we didn't want to wait on our date; but everyone was always so friendly and kind when we spoke with them!
Reviewed on 21-05-2020
Wedding Date 09-05-2020
While the venue was absolutely stunning and very family friendly, my (now) husband and I weren't able to have our wedding ceremony or reception at Grand Bear. Holly was such a pleasure to work with and I wish we could've kept their location for our wedding! Due to covid-19, Grand Bear had to close it's doors for a while and we didn't want to wait on our date; but everyone was always so friendly and kind when we spoke with them!
Reviewed on 21-05-2020
Jennie Peden (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 13-04-2019
This venue was the 3rd place we looked at. I immediately fell in love with Holly our contact. They offered much more for the price then the 2 previous places we looked at. As time went on and we made more and more decisions, communication was wonderful and eye for detail was unmatched. On the day of our wedding Kathy took care of everything for us. Holly took our first picture and emailed it to me and the entire staff was overly accommodating to any request and seed genuinely happy for us. Everything was beautiful and put together perfectly with little to no input by us on the day of. The day was perfect from beginning to end and I felt that the people at Grand Bear were part of our family and friends. can't recommend this venue enough!
Reviewed on 16-04-2019
Wedding Date 13-04-2019
This venue was the 3rd place we looked at. I immediately fell in love with Holly our contact. They offered much more for the price then the 2 previous places we looked at. As time went on and we made more and more decisions, communication was wonderful and eye for detail was unmatched. On the day of our wedding Kathy took care of everything for us. Holly took our first picture and emailed it to me and the entire staff was overly accommodating to any request and seed genuinely happy for us. Everything was beautiful and put together perfectly with little to no input by us on the day of. The day was perfect from beginning to end and I felt that the people at Grand Bear were part of our family and friends. can't recommend this venue enough!
Reviewed on 16-04-2019
Erin McConville (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-09-2018
Grand Bear was amazing!! The staff ensured our day was perfect! It was even better than we imagined. Holly, Kathy and their staff are a dynamic team and the day was flawless. We will forever remember Saturday as one of the best days of our life. Thank you Grand Bear! I highly highly recommend them.
Reviewed on 19-09-2018
Wedding Date 15-09-2018
Grand Bear was amazing!! The staff ensured our day was perfect! It was even better than we imagined. Holly, Kathy and their staff are a dynamic team and the day was flawless. We will forever remember Saturday as one of the best days of our life. Thank you Grand Bear! I highly highly recommend them.
Reviewed on 19-09-2018
Mary Baker (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-04-2018
We had our wedding over at Starved Rock Lodge in April 2018 & we are so grateful for Grizzly Jacks. Holly - the sales manager- was the kindest & most responsive vendor we worked with & she made sure my guests were taken care of. It is a shame the resort doesn’t stay more busy to be able to operate the bar & restaurant - as the park & the area are beautiful! This is great 2nd option for wedding guests to stay & even though the waterpark was closed- the arcade was a hit.
Reviewed on 28-04-2018
Wedding Date 21-04-2018
We had our wedding over at Starved Rock Lodge in April 2018 & we are so grateful for Grizzly Jacks. Holly - the sales manager- was the kindest & most responsive vendor we worked with & she made sure my guests were taken care of. It is a shame the resort doesn’t stay more busy to be able to operate the bar & restaurant - as the park & the area are beautiful! This is great 2nd option for wedding guests to stay & even though the waterpark was closed- the arcade was a hit.
Reviewed on 28-04-2018
Kelli Mulkerrins (wedding party) 1 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-10-2018
Stayed here to see if this is where I wanted to have my wedding. Because we're a large family, we thought Grizzly Bear resort would be perfect.I'm so glad I did! In one word: filthy!Upon pulling up to the main entrance, you could see garbage strewn about the grounds. Once I got into the lobby, it was loaded with people waiting for rooms. Mind you, this was 3pm on a Friday.But the worst part was our dirty room. It was located downstairs by the arcade. Walls had marks all over. Old television set with no remote. Toilet with fecal matter in it. Because the petting zoo was apparently closed, all the kids were in the arcade. Very loud and extremely difficult to sleep.The restaurant experience was less than acceptable. Silverware was dirty. There were no spoons. Uncomfortable wooden chairs with no padding. Flies hovering around. Smelled really bad like a skunk sprayed nearby?Reviews on Yelp and Trip Advisor contain extremely disturbing pictures that are in line with things I observed.There is NO WAY I would have my wedding here. Not today - not ever.
Reviewed on 21-08-2017
Wedding Date 22-10-2018
Stayed here to see if this is where I wanted to have my wedding. Because we're a large family, we thought Grizzly Bear resort would be perfect.I'm so glad I did! In one word: filthy!Upon pulling up to the main entrance, you could see garbage strewn about the grounds. Once I got into the lobby, it was loaded with people waiting for rooms. Mind you, this was 3pm on a Friday.But the worst part was our dirty room. It was located downstairs by the arcade. Walls had marks all over. Old television set with no remote. Toilet with fecal matter in it. Because the petting zoo was apparently closed, all the kids were in the arcade. Very loud and extremely difficult to sleep.The restaurant experience was less than acceptable. Silverware was dirty. There were no spoons. Uncomfortable wooden chairs with no padding. Flies hovering around. Smelled really bad like a skunk sprayed nearby?Reviews on Yelp and Trip Advisor contain extremely disturbing pictures that are in line with things I observed.There is NO WAY I would have my wedding here. Not today - not ever.
Reviewed on 21-08-2017
Monica Fusco (bride) 1 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-10-2018
Stayed at Grizzly Jack Resort August 18th, 19th, 20th. We were looking at possible wedding venues for a relative and decided to stay here to preview the venue. Be Warned Everyone: This Place is NOT as advertised. We arrived at the hotel in the late afternoon. The woman at the front desk told us to come back at 4:00. Very rude! The front desk suggested we go down to the water park to pass the time. The floor of the pool area was so dirty, that I wouldn’t even let a dog swim in it. The water park looked nasty, so we opted not to go swimming. It was really hot out so we just sat in the lobby and let our baby crawl on the floor for 2 hours. The RoomsFinally, at 4:00 were given a key to our Villa. Please be advised that the Villas cost a whopping $400 a night. There was No housekeeping. That’s right! They did not come one time to clean our room or change towels. Can you imagine that we paid over $800 to stay at a weekend resort and they don’t even clean the rooms? We attempted to call the front desk to complain but the phones were not connected. Amazing! The walls were dingy nasty, with dirt marks as far as the eye could see. There was a coffee maker, but no coffee, no filters, and no paper towels. The front desk told us to buy what we needed and that they do not provide extras. Since when did a paper towel become an extra at a resort? The entire villa comes with one garbage can under the kitchen sink. They give you no extra garbage bags either. I felt like an animal because the can filled up after a night. BugsAt around 9:00 pm at night, my nine-month year old started crying violently while grabbing her foot. Behold, upon inspecting her foot, there was a visible bite mark. I looked for the culprit. Sure enough…fire ants were everywhere. This includes the living room, bedrooms and bathrooms. Just nasty. There were six of us in our party. Every single person was bitten by a bug while in the rooms. Also, they have old school tube televisions. You would think a resort that charges almost a thousand dollars for a weekend would have modern TVs. Not here. The living room couch was broken down. You could not lay on it. Underneath the couch was a piece of wood with a nail sticking out. I guess this was to keep it upright. The couch was dangerous. There is absolutely no way I would recommend anyone having a wedding or bachelorette party at this business. Please make sure you read the reviews on Yelp, and other places before you spend your hard earned money. Jipped by Grizzly!
Reviewed on 21-08-2017
Wedding Date 21-10-2018
Stayed at Grizzly Jack Resort August 18th, 19th, 20th. We were looking at possible wedding venues for a relative and decided to stay here to preview the venue. Be Warned Everyone: This Place is NOT as advertised. We arrived at the hotel in the late afternoon. The woman at the front desk told us to come back at 4:00. Very rude! The front desk suggested we go down to the water park to pass the time. The floor of the pool area was so dirty, that I wouldn’t even let a dog swim in it. The water park looked nasty, so we opted not to go swimming. It was really hot out so we just sat in the lobby and let our baby crawl on the floor for 2 hours. The RoomsFinally, at 4:00 were given a key to our Villa. Please be advised that the Villas cost a whopping $400 a night. There was No housekeeping. That’s right! They did not come one time to clean our room or change towels. Can you imagine that we paid over $800 to stay at a weekend resort and they don’t even clean the rooms? We attempted to call the front desk to complain but the phones were not connected. Amazing! The walls were dingy nasty, with dirt marks as far as the eye could see. There was a coffee maker, but no coffee, no filters, and no paper towels. The front desk told us to buy what we needed and that they do not provide extras. Since when did a paper towel become an extra at a resort? The entire villa comes with one garbage can under the kitchen sink. They give you no extra garbage bags either. I felt like an animal because the can filled up after a night. BugsAt around 9:00 pm at night, my nine-month year old started crying violently while grabbing her foot. Behold, upon inspecting her foot, there was a visible bite mark. I looked for the culprit. Sure enough…fire ants were everywhere. This includes the living room, bedrooms and bathrooms. Just nasty. There were six of us in our party. Every single person was bitten by a bug while in the rooms. Also, they have old school tube televisions. You would think a resort that charges almost a thousand dollars for a weekend would have modern TVs. Not here. The living room couch was broken down. You could not lay on it. Underneath the couch was a piece of wood with a nail sticking out. I guess this was to keep it upright. The couch was dangerous. There is absolutely no way I would recommend anyone having a wedding or bachelorette party at this business. Please make sure you read the reviews on Yelp, and other places before you spend your hard earned money. Jipped by Grizzly!
Reviewed on 21-08-2017
Andrea Streyhammer (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 11-06-2011
The Grand Bear Resort was our venue for the big day/weekend. \r\rThe ceremony was held on the gorgeous outdoor Canyon Deck, a multi-level space overlooking a small canyon and framed by two little creeks.\r\rThe reception was in the Grand Ballroom, under elegant chandeliers. Food and drinks are provided by the resort. We chose a seated, three course dinner and an open bar. The food, drinks and service were outstanding!\r\rOur guests and us were staying at the beautifully rustic cabins, villas and rooms. The biggest holds up to 20 people, which was great. Many families who normally live far apart in different states, were able to spent time together.\r\rThere is an indoor water- and amusement park, as well as mini-golf and arcade games on the property. A little trolley takes you to every building. \r\rIt was wonderful to have everyone stay close together and the celebrations in the same place. The morning after the wedding we even had breakfast catered to one of the cabins for all overnight guests.\r\rThe staff was absolutely amazing and helped so much to make our day perfect. And it truly was perfect :)
Reviewed on 07-10-2011
Wedding Date 11-06-2011
The Grand Bear Resort was our venue for the big day/weekend. \r\rThe ceremony was held on the gorgeous outdoor Canyon Deck, a multi-level space overlooking a small canyon and framed by two little creeks.\r\rThe reception was in the Grand Ballroom, under elegant chandeliers. Food and drinks are provided by the resort. We chose a seated, three course dinner and an open bar. The food, drinks and service were outstanding!\r\rOur guests and us were staying at the beautifully rustic cabins, villas and rooms. The biggest holds up to 20 people, which was great. Many families who normally live far apart in different states, were able to spent time together.\r\rThere is an indoor water- and amusement park, as well as mini-golf and arcade games on the property. A little trolley takes you to every building. \r\rIt was wonderful to have everyone stay close together and the celebrations in the same place. The morning after the wedding we even had breakfast catered to one of the cabins for all overnight guests.\r\rThe staff was absolutely amazing and helped so much to make our day perfect. And it truly was perfect :)
Reviewed on 07-10-2011
Kayla Jones (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-05-2010
The staff was absolutely amazing!!! Chris and Kathy took very good care of us! If I were to do it all over again I would def. do it there! It was a blast and they had everything perfect!!
Reviewed on 01-09-2010
8 Reviews, with a Rating of 3.88 out of 5.0Wedding Date 15-05-2010
The staff was absolutely amazing!!! Chris and Kathy took very good care of us! If I were to do it all over again I would def. do it there! It was a blast and they had everything perfect!!
Reviewed on 01-09-2010
Contact Info for Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock
| Contact | Value |
|---|---|
| Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock | |
| X (Twitter) | Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock |
| Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock | |
| Website | |
| Phone | (866) 399-3866 |
| Address | 2643 N IL Route 178, Utica, IL, 61373 |
| sales@grandbearresort.com |
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