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Your Starved Rock Gateway Awaits!

Photo gallery for Your Starved Rock Gateway Awaits!

Kitchen
Private kitchen
Private kitchen
Private kitchen
Living area

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill
  • Balcony

Explore the area

View in a map
North Utica, IL
  • Place, Starved Rock State Park
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Place, Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park
    ‪1 min drive‬
  • Place, Matthiessen State Park
    ‪2 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

2nd Bedroom

2 Queen Beds

Living Room

1 Double Futon

Master Bedroom

1 Double Futon and 1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

1st Floor Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Master Bedroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Your Starved Rock Gateway Awaits!

Escape to this 1,800 sq ft villa, just minutes from Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park, Buffalo Rock State Park, and historic Downtown Utica. Perfectly tucked away at the back of the Grand Bear complex, this peaceful retreat offers beautiful forest views from the private patio and the primary bedroom.

Freshly painted and thoughtfully appointed, the villa comfortably sleeps 8 guests, with space to accommodate up to 10. Designed to deliver a true home-away-from-home experience, you’ll find spacious living areas, comfortable bedrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen ready for everything from quick breakfasts to family dinners.

After a day of hiking and exploring, unwind in the jetted soaking tub — perfect for relaxing tired muscles. The primary suite also features a private vanity sink for added comfort and convenience.

Entertainment options include:

50” Roku TV in the living room with streaming access (Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV, Hulu, and more)

Xfinity cable TV in the primary bedroom

Roku TV in the second bedroom

Complimentary high-speed WiFi throughout

Linens and towels are provided, along with starter supplies to help you settle in comfortably.

For families traveling with little ones, a Pack ’n Play is available upon request.

The villa is professionally cleaned and sanitized after every guest. Quarterly pest control services and seasonal vent and duct cleanings ensure a fresh and well-maintained environment year-round.

Come relax, explore, and experience the natural beauty of the area — all while enjoying the comfort and privacy of your own spacious retreat.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 24
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Pack n Play available upon request
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

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.
View more Villas in UticaOpens in a new window
Map
North Utica, IL

What's nearby

  • Starved Rock State Park - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park - 1 min drive - 0.0 km
  • Matthiessen State Park - 2 min drive - 1.1 km
  • Buffalo Rock State Park - 10 min drive - 12.6 km
  • Skydive Chicago - 22 min drive - 33.6 km

Getting around

  • Mendota Station - 28 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Cortileno’s - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Rootbeer Stand - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Casey's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Skoog's Pub & Grill - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Your Starved Rock Gateway Awaits! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Your Starved Rock Gateway Awaits!?

As of 5 May, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Your Starved Rock Gateway Awaits! on 28 May, 2026 start from S$225, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Your Starved Rock Gateway Awaits!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Your Starved Rock Gateway Awaits!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Your Starved Rock Gateway Awaits!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Your Starved Rock Gateway Awaits! located?

Situated in Utica, this villa is within a 10-minute walk of Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park and Starved Rock State Park. Matthiessen State Park and Mix's Trading Post are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

10

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. 106 out of 110 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 110 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 110 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 110 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 110 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Eddie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place and accommodations, we'll definitely look to book again!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mike R.

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

Great place to stay

This home is well kept and well set up for a short or longer stay. Very clean, comfortable, nice location. Very close to State parks and only a short drive to town. Well worth staying at.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Margie L.

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

Wonderful Stay

The townhome was clean and beautifully decorated! We had so much fun on our Galentine’s weekend and it so close to town. We can’t wait to come back!!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

amanda

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Excellent location. Beautiful resort. Highly recommended!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Barb B.

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

Awesome accommodations

Beautiful, very clean, well stocked, great layout and roomy!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Arlette D.

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

Beautiful and comfortable cabin!!

This wonderful cabin had everything we needed and more! We enjoyed our stay so much. Joanna (host) took care of every detail and was always kind and responsive. We will definitely come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan T.

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

Family Tradition

Very nice villa . Love our memories
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marcie

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Very nice, clean and stocked well with necessities! 🤗
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Annette D.

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

Great Location

We wanted to have a short weekend away to explore Starved Rock and this condo was the perfect choice. Close to everything, quite neighborhood, and great amenities. Very cozy and comfortable. Thank you for a great stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Peaceful

This was a perfect place to have a reunion with good friends. It was quiet and comforyable and clean and spacious.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jose

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We had an amazing time. Owner is super nice! The home is super cozy and clean. We will definatley be returning!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julie W.

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

Love staying in this Villa!

So cozy! Very clean! Hope to come back next year!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lisa P.

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

Fantastic Visit!

Property is in a convenient location to the many local areas of interest. It is nicely decorated, very clean, and pleasantly stocked with amenities. Communication with the manager was excellent.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tisa G.

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

The picture no gesture it was awesome when we got there

Amazing place I will go again for family, friends gathering etc. It was great…..
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Adam A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We stayed for an extended weekend over Valentines Day. The villa was clean and very spacious. Wasjust my wife and I so we only needed the Master bedroom. The other bedroom was large with 2 queen beds. The bath upstairs was shared between the 2 bedrooms but there was a door from the master and from the hallway. The Jacuzzi tub in the bedroom was so relaxing after a day of hiking. There has been some complaints on other villas about not having enough hot water to fill the tub, but we never had an issue. A little tip…use strictly the hot water when starting to fill the tub until it’s about to the jets. Then turn on the cold and add till you get to the temp you want. Was plenty hot enough and even had to turn the hot off sooner the next night we used it. The kitchen was stocked with everything we needed. There were a couple times we had to contact the host, Joanna, and she was quick to reply. There is a community grill about 100 yards away that we used for two dinners and the host left charcoal and lighting fluid for us to use. The villas are right across the street from Starved Rocked State Park and just down the street from Matthiessen State Park so perfect for hikers. Our stay was great and we have already recommended to friends
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jerel S.

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

Perfect mid-west escape

The property is located in what I believe is the perfect spot of seclusion and the charm of downtown Utica. The villa was super accessible, comfortable, and was the perfect escape that we needed. We will definitely be back.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly T.

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

Great Stay...Will book again.

We were really impressed with how well organized and stocked the villa was. It felt like home away from home. We were very comfortable. Thank you for making our weekend great. I just wish that water park passes were included.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marion K.

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

Whiner’s Trip 2022

Every year, a group of us get away for a week or so in the summer (we’re all educators). This year we decided to stay close to home. We couldn’t have picked a better villa, better hostess, better location!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Megan G.

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

Amazing as always

We have stayed at several of the cabins in this complex and this one is our favorite. The owner is very responsive to communication and handles any issues (not that there will be many, if any) quickly. Thank you for another great stay. We will be back again.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ruth K.

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

Perfect Fall Getaway

Our visit to Grand Bear Resort was just what we were looking for in a family vacation. This VRBO unit was tucked away in a quiet area of the villas and the pictures are just what you see inside! We really appreciated the housekeeping amenities that were provided. More than enough for our week long Oct. 16 - 24 visit. The little extras like coffee pods and spices were a nice surprise! Communication with the owner was very quick, and when we had a need it was taken care of right away. She was great to work with!
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kristen B.

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

Loved our weekend trip!

We had an amazing weekend stay! The place was clean and spacious for us! It had everything we needed! We will for sure be back! Loved the town of Utica! They had just set up their Mills Street with outdoor dining and we had a wonderful time! The town is very family friendly and we will be bringing the kids with us next time! We hiked all of the trails in Starved Rock and most of the trails at Matthiessen as well! Definitely recommend eating at Bruce and Ollie’s and Skoogs! Thank you so much for our amazing stay! We will definitely be back!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dori G.

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

What a great Home!!!

We had the best time! House was perfect with a stocked kitchen, bedding, and essentials. We ranged in ages from 6-70 and everyone had fun. The house was a good size to hold us all (5 adults and 5 kids 6-17). Bedrooms were big and 2 full baths were a plus. Walked to the water park and right across the street from the St Louis Canyon parking lot to walk the trail. Short drive to Starved Rock and Mattiessen State Parks. Bruch at Starved Rock Lodge-YUM!!!!! You won't be disappointed!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

mary r.

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

nice place

it's hard to find at night, even after you know the way, so be sure to come prepared. inside is very nice. evrything worked except for the wi-fi, and that will probably be remedied very soon since we made the property owner aware. cozy fireplace, kids loved the spa tub, just the right amount of space for 10 people. shampoo and conditioner provided for those who forgot, as well as a bit of non perishable food to tide you over if needing a snack upon arrival.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Anita G.

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

Wonderful

I have one complaint. The master room balcony was dangerous. My daughter could have fallen thru. But for the most part it was a great experience to be here.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan A.

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

Spacious, clean cabin in a quiet wooded setting

We enjoyed staying at this property and we’re pleasantly pleased on arrival at how spacious the unit was. The unit was clean and there was plenty of room for the six of us. In the living area there was only a sofa and a loveseat, seating for 5 even though there were beds for 10. The balcony in the master suite showed some decay and did not look safe to use. We were disappointed at how far the cabins were from the town of Lasalle where the wedding was held that we were there to attend. I thought the unit was in Lasalle, but found it was in Lasalle county. Might have been my oversight when I booked. Overall, we were happy staying here, it was a good value for the price we paid.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

About the host

Hosted by Joanna

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English

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