Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort and Indoor Water Park - Page 1

Stay here at your own risk. One of the worst exepriences ever. Staff is mediocre and charges appeared on our bill that were not ours.

Get in the car and drive away if you see this place.

No Get-away in this get-away

We rented a villa for 3 nights for a special of $199 a night. Two families 4 adults, 3 teens and 2 kids. The villa was newer and clean and we all fit comfortably. Friday night we arrive, if I had checked in first I would have asked for another room but our friends had already settled. We were surrounded on three sides by either a parking lot or a road (the fourth side was another attached villa) The villa backed into the “Enchanted Forest” indoor amusement park. Why they felt the need to place speakers on the roof-top and blare hip-hop mixed with hard rock from 10 to 10 everyday is a mystery. Settling in we realize there are NO hangers in the closets, a shortage of towels, and NO curtains on the kitchen windows overlooking the parking lot/road. Friday night we open some wine to share with our friends– NO wine opener NO wine glasses in this “fully-equipped” kitchen. Luckily one of the teens had a swiss-army knife. Time for bed 6 lumpy pillows NO extra blankets (the villa was suppose to sleep 9) kids and teens are more adaptable and it is late so we make do. Saturday morning – teens complain of a metal bar poking them all night on the hide-a-bed. I planned to make bacon and pancakes for our crew. NO griddle. There is a one-egg frying pan and a small sauté pan, it takes over an hour cooking in small batches. If you take sugar in your coffee, bring your own sugar, NO packets are available (NO dish soap, salt&pepper, kitchen cloth&towels, ice/icecube trays either). So I go outside it is a beautiful summer day NO chairs outside and hip-hop music is blaring from the “enchanted forest” go inside time for the in-door water-park. It is packed! Too-many villas for the size of the park, there is not enough deck space. NO sun-deck or other place to sit outside (or inside). We all enjoyed the water for a bit. I wanted to relax, read a book, but the noise level and poor ventilation made the clorine burn our eyes & throats and the noise ring our ears. They have music on which only adds to the distress and periodic announcements, which we had no clue what they were announcing because of the noise level. And there was NO escape. We have been to many waterpark hotels and stayed in many villas before, never have we been in one so poorly equipped or a water park so crowded and poorly ventilated. We break for a late lunch early dinner. NO mixing bowls NO baking pans. We call for garbage pick-up, they never came. We call again for more towels and garbage bags finally show-up but no garbage pick-up. We go to the “enchanted forest” a few rides but mostly arcade games and a bar. Bring LOTs of money. This hotel needs serious improvements. Located near two wonderful stateparks, and a famous bike trail I would guess many other outdoor enthusiasts would stay here. Add a sun deck, larger /better ventilated pool area, a few plastic chairs outside the villas, turn off the music at the enchanted forest, add a few more kitchen supplies and it just might be stayable.

This is not something i do,write reviews but this was such an unpleasant experience that I am taking the time to help others save money and sickness. We stayed here and found the location and outside of the resort beautiful. Do not judge a book by it's cover because this place was a horror story. The towels are old and rougher than sandpaper. The pool is slightly bigger than my tub and the water color/odor is foul. The food reminded me of bad university food and the staff was rude. The mini golf was fun. The train was cute but that is it for $500/night. My kids were bored with the tiny pool,enjoyed the rides that worked in the indoor kiddie park and we loved hiking Starved Rock. I would stay at the local hotel for $80,eat at Jimmy John's and use the rest of the money to buy a K-mart pool and still have $300 extra in my pocket and more fun. I guess I am to blame because I thought it would be like the Dells. It was more like the Hells. I also have now read a lot of bad reviews and learned my lesson the hard way...look first. I don't know how long they have been in business nor how long they will but they must make some serious changes if they plan to compete. This was a waste of money and time. I would not stay at the Grand Disaster again. Thanks for letting me vent.

Susan Neronski

Chicago,Il

I suprised my family and kids by taking them here for a weekend. The food in the restaurant was worth every penny. My family all enjoyed our food and I think you get what you pay for. We all enjoyed the waterpark with no complaints and if we needed something brought to our room they brought it within minutes. The fun we had at the water park and amusment park and the service that we had was awesome. We would definataly do it again.

Dead bugs in the ladies locker room. Unsupervised kids in the hot tub, extremely poor lighting on the stairs going up to water slide, safety rules not enforced by lifeguards. The food was extremely overpriced. In the villas no dishwashing soap, only 1 towel in each of the bathrooms. The front desk people were incompetent and trying to get a credit card issue resolved with their home office acounting group was a nightmare.