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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

Living area
Interior
Room
Exterior
Room

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6167.2 sq m

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

View map
  • Place, Starved Rock State Park
  • Place, Matthiessen State Park
  • Place, Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Queen Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

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

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Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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Interior
SPACIOUS AND COZY VILLA LOCATED ON RESORT WALKING DISTANCE FROM STARVED ROCK
  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
10.0 out of 10, (183 reviews)
SPACIOUS AND COZY VILLA LOCATED ON RESORT WALKING DISTANCE FROM STARVED ROCK

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
I have provided ash trays for outside smoking

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

About the area

Utica

Utica is home to this villa. Starved Rock State Park and Deer Park Country Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Matthiessen State Park and Buffalo Rock State Park. Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park and Mix's Trading Post are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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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).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
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

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

9.8/10

Amenities

9.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Carol K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our stay at this property was wonderful! Beautiful villa and every amenity you can think of. We felt right at home. Every room was very clean and comfortable. Such a relaxing weekend. Mark is a great host. He answered all our questions immediately whenever we contacted him. We will definitely be back! Thank you, Mark!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Danyl V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We were traveling for a wedding out of town. This venue worked perfect for us to be able to stay together as a family. It was a great area and we will plan to come back and explore the area when we have more time. The host communicated well and provided water and muffins, which was super thoughtful and helpful upon arriving!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

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

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

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

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

Garrett G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great stay for the second time now at this cozy property in the beautiful Starved Rock state park area of Illinois. Mark was easy to work with and everything went smoothly.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ruth M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Clean, comfortable, quiet!Amenities were much appreciated. We had a great stay!!
Stayed 32 nights in Jul 2025

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

About the host

Hosted by mark d helgren

Host profile image

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests