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The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing

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Interior
2 bedrooms, WiFi, bed sheets
Exterior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Smart TV

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6167 sq m

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
UTICA, IL
  • Starved Rock State Park
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Matthiessen State Park
    ‪8 min walk‬

Room options

About the area

Utica

In Utica .Within a 5-minute walk of this Utica villa, you'll find Starved Rock State Park and Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park. Also, Matthiessen State Park is within half a mile (1 km) and Mix's Trading Post is within 2 miles (3 km).
View more Villas in UticaOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Starved Rock State Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Matthiessen State Park - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Illinois River Winery - 2 min drive - 2.3 km
  • August Hill Winery Tasting Room - 3 min drive - 2.9 km

Getting around

  • Mendota Station - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Rootbeer Stand - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Back Door Lounge - ‬5 min drive

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

Grand bear vacation resort villa newly renovated very comfortable close to starved rock and Matthiessen state parks fully furnished two bedroom, two baths, 1 king size bed ,two queen beds very comfortable fully equipped kitchen and laundry Jacuzzi tub for relaxing lots of fun activities near by cable TV and WiFi provided front and back decks upstairs the living room is furnished with rustic looking furniture and animal mounts for that in the woods cabin feel guests are sure to enjoy this quiet comfortable atmosphere NEW SEALY SUMMER ROSE MEDIUM MATTRESSES FOR YOUR COMFORT

Property manager

mark d helgren

Languages

English

Similar properties

2 bedrooms, free WiFi, bed sheets

Private Vacation Villa at Grand Bear Lodge near Starved Rock

  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
4.8 out of 5, Exceptional, 97 reviews
Private Vacation Villa at Grand Bear Lodge near Starved Rock

Property amenities

Pool/Spa

  • Hot tub

Internet

  • Available in the villa: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

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

  • 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

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

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Parties and events are allowed on site. 

Property is also known as

Bears Den Quiet Comfortable Wildlife Hummingbird Viewing Villa
Bears Den Quiet Comfortable Wildlife Hummingbird Viewing UTICA
Bears Den Quiet Comfortable Wildlife Hummingbird Viewing
Bears Den Quiet Comfortable Wildlife Hummingbird Viewing Villa
Bears Den Quiet Comfortable Wildlife Hummingbird Viewing UTICA
Bears Den Quiet Comfortable Wildlife Hummingbird Viewing Villa
Bears Den Quiet Comfortable Wildlife Hummingbird Viewing
The Bears Den Quiet Comfortable Wildlife Hummingbird Viewing
The Bears Den Quiet Comfortable Wildlife Hummingbird Viewing
The Bears Den Quiet Comfortable Wildlife Hummingbird Viewing

The Bear Den Peaceful and Comfortable Animal and Hummingbird Viewing Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 114 out of 126 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 126 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 126 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 126 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 126 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

9.8/10

Amenities

9.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Joelle R., Sheboygan, WI

Liked: Cleanliness
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

Emily R.

Liked: Cleanliness
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
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

Alden H.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

IVAN A., Peru, il

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

10/10 Excellent

Garrett G.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

10/10 Excellent

Michael M.

Liked: Cleanliness
stay
Mark is wonderful
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Arlene S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Anniversary
Very clean and comfortable. Great experience
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer C.

Liked: Cleanliness
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
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

10/10 Excellent

Becky S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Bear Den Villa
Very nice villa. The owner made us feel right at home.On arrival we found muffins and bananas awaiting us. Also,a wonderful coffee bar. A very nice well stocked home. We really enjoyed spending time out on the outside decks. The owner was especially accommodating as the microwave was not working and he promptly fixed that issue. Definitely a place to return to. A home away from home.
Stayed 28 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Samantha

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing property. Will be staying again.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

2/10 Terrible

Barbara W.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Perfect Location
The location was perfect for hiking the parks. The condo was clean and spacious. Had muffins and bananas waiting for us. The upstairs master bedroom has a jacuzzi bathtub that made long hikes feel so Much better. We would stay again. Highly recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Adam M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful wedding weekend
We were in town for a wedding and had never been to starved rock or the area prior. The location was perfect just minutes away from both state parks. The property itself was cozy comfy and relaxing. Just as advertised. Would highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Catherine C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great trip for the family
Nice and clean, close to parks and great hiking
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place to stay
The place is very nice inside. Very well stocked with everything you need to cook and feel like your at home
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

6/10 Okay

Connie B.

Liked: Cleanliness
In the Grand Bear Resort, no water park admission
The day before our trip, I asked for an address, and we were very disappointed to find out this property was part of a resort. We had decided to book through VRBO because we wanted to stay somewhere more private, and didn't want to stay at a busy resort. There is no outside privacy at this property. Also, we could have booked through the resort for much less and it would have also included the water park admission. Apparently the listing has now been updated to state that this is a villa in the resort. Too late for us. The property itself was very nice, well stocked and clean, and very close to Matthiessen Park and Starved Rock.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Weekend getaway
Great place to stay! It was very clean and comfortable. It was in a great location for going to Starved Rock state park.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Cheryl F.

Hummingbirds do visit!
The property is gorgeous! The birds are abundant. In this particular location we were able to see deer in the woods in the morning and again at dusk. We had quiet a few hummingbird visits too. Nice and close to Starved Rock and the towns center. The owner was generous enough to provide water and muffins with a personal note. It was a really nice touch. On the flip side, we had to clean the hot tub and the comforter before we could use them. Both were not at their best. Also note the original fire places are blocked off with faux fireplace in front of them. I would visit again but not at the cost that we paid.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Terry S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Visit with elderly family member
Nice place. Good location
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephen G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Construction superintendent
Nice place, mark was very friendly and helpful.Nice location.
Stayed 31 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah A.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

Gary B.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

Caryn S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Cozy and Comfortable
Thank you for making our stay feel so special. Your cabin was welcoming, spacious, and well-stocked. We loved walking in and finding the muffins and bananas! What a thoughtful gesture, we are hoping to return some time!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Lauryn K.

Liked: Cleanliness
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