Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort

Grand Bear Falls, the indoor water park at Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort offers a decent number of features for its size. (At 24,000 square feet, the park is comparatively small.)

Among the attractions is a lazy river, a wave pool, and a number of slides, including body and tube slides. A family slide is extra wide to allow families to slide together. (Most water slides only allow riders to go down one at a time.) The Ranger Station is an in interactive water play center with small water slides, climbing apparatus, water cannons, and a huge tipping water bucket.

Younger children can frolic in the Tot Pool, while older guests will want to chill out in the hot tub. On Saturdays and Sundays, Grand Bear Falls presents the Grand Duck Derby. Children can enter the contest and win prizes if their rubber ducks do well in a race around the lazy river.

Compared to larger, more full-featured indoor water parks, Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort is lacking more thrilling attractions such as a water coaster or a funnel ride. As such, it is geared more to families with children 12 and under.

Other Things to Do

The Grand Bear Resort also offers the Cave Arcade, which offers 60 games including ones that offer redemption ticketd. During the warmer months, an outdoor mini-golf course is available.

As a family-oriented resort, Grand Bear offers activities geared to children including storytelling, evening movies, and crafts. The adjacent Bear Island includes a waterfall, hiking trails, and an observation deck. There is also an outdoor Castle in the Woods playground.

The resort is located near Starved Rock State Park, which offers canyons, bluffs, rock formations, and other things to explore. Matthiessen State Park is also nearby.

Admission Policy and Location

Admission to the Grand Bear Falls water park is included with room rates for hotel guests. Day passes are available for the general public on certain days. Contact Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort for more info.

The resort offers birthday party packages that include admission to the water park. It also has a conference center that can be booked for meetings, weddings, and banquets.

The resort is at Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Illinois. The actual address is 2643 N. State Route 178. Take I-80 to Rte. 178 S, through the town of Utica. Cross the Illinois River, and the resort is one mile on the right. Starved Rock State Park is 95 miles from Chicago.

What's to Eat?

Inside the water park, the Wave Cafe offers snacks and treats. Other dining options at the resort include Jack's Place Restaurant & Sports Bar, which offers a breakfast buffet, and the Honey Pot Sweet Shop. In warmer weather, the resort opens the Bear Island Outdoor Bar & Grill on weekends.

Hotel Accommodations

Grizzly Jack's offers 272 units to rent, including standard hotel rooms as well as suites, vacation villas, and luxury cabins. Hotel guests receive complimentary passes to the water park. Check the resort’s Web site for specials and packages.

Grizzly Jack’s also offers a conference and meeting center which can host banquets, business events, weddings, and other receptions.