Starved Rock Lodge, North Utica

Beautiful sunny winter weekday for eagle watching. We walked to the top of the Rock and enjoyed the peaceful setting. Lunch was a reasonably priced soup and salad in the dining room (and I picked up a shearling-lined vest for 50% off at the gift shop next to the dining room). There were a ton of people, and the massive fireplace in the Great Hall made it seem really homey and comfortable. Our room was newly renovated and had a flat screen tv and wireless internet access--so we were happy.

If you want REAL natural beauty go to New Hampshire. This was nothing more than a small parcel of valley and hills among flat land. While some might call the older wing of the lodge "rustic" - I think "dumpy" more aptly describes it. There was barely enough room to walk around the beds, the room smelled so bad I got a migrane, and the bathroom hadn't been updated in literally decades. Our first night was in the new wing and it was nicer, but overpriced for nothing more than an "adequate" room. I cannot remember a time when I was so disappointed with a hotel.

we love the service and atmoshere except when bikers are there. we could not get waited on in the bar. they waited on them but ignored us.

My husband and I went to starved rock for our 12th anniversary. We expected peace and quiet, and beautiful surroundings. What we expected and what we received were two very different things! We stayed in an east wing room with a bay window. The bay window had 3 different windows and all but the center one the seals had leaked and were permanently foggy, you could not see anything out of them. There was a carving right outside the window, so people were constantly walking right up to our window to take pictures or look at the carving. The bathroom did not have an exhaust fan or a window that opened, and was so small that everytime I sat down on the toilet, I about cracked my head on the sink (I'm not kidding). The room smelled musty and upon further investigation, I found mold, and plenty of it on the ceiling in the corner. We also found out that people in the room next to us having normal conversations could be overheard by us with no problem. Whenever we left our room, the lodge was so packed that the traffic in the hallways was always at a standstill, you could not get anywhere. Maybe if you are coming from Chicago you are used to this many people, but I expected a lot more privacy and peace and quiet. Would I go there again? NO!

if you are a out door person you have to see this a beautiful place great hiking trails,great wild life all around you,nice fishing,wonderful food and service,a nice family get away or great for just you and her get away

Starved Rock is also a must see!! I recommend makeing a trip out to see it if you can, there are many trails to walk or ride bikes, also you can go fishing. You can even go camping, there is also a hotel if you dont like to go camping, you can even just take a day and go out there and have a pinic there are many sites you can go!! So if you wanna take a nice family vacation try going and seeing Starved Rock!!