Starved Rock Lodge Cabins

My 2 star review is for the multiple occupancy (4 unit) cabins. My husband & I went here for our 2 year anniversary. To say «huge mistake» would be an understatement. The only thing we found to be truly «chill» here was the brutal late January air.
The place was clean in every respect & eventually warmed up once we figured out the puzzle of the heater controls. Privacy level was low due to inexcusably super thin walls. If you hiked all day, drank lots of crappy beer (your only option here unless you brought your own) & passed out in a stupor, you might find these cabins to be WONDERFUL. Otherwise, you may find the fact that you can hear & be heard (in terms of your other side of the wall cabin mates) disturbing, especially if you came here for a quiet or romantic evening. The only way these cabins could be made LESS private, is if they would make the walls transparent! There are 2 SINGLE occupancy cabins, which may be worth a try if you wish some modicum of privacy. All options here, from food to lodging, are pricy for what you get, but it is to be expected, along with all the noise & hyperactivity, at a hight tourism location like this. WIFI is sketchy at best. Close proximity to the trails is a plus. All of this in mind, if you do visit, I HIGHLY recommend that you bring your own food & beverage. Bring ice, as there is no fridge.

These are the log cabins located on the grounds of the Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center. Staff told me that they were built in the late 40’s to early 50’s. The cabins which are a stone’s throw away from the Starved Rock Lodge, as well as the swimming pool & sauna contain 4 separate units divided by a paper thin wall through which you can hear EVERYTHING from thunderous snoring to conversation. If you are here looking for any privacy of any sort, you are in the WRONG place. There are 2 cabins on the other side of the lodge which are single units w/​queen bed. This is where you want to be if you want some space to your self. In any event, do keep in mind that the entire setting is not just a State Park, it is also a tourist attraction, so do not expect any sort of secluded wildlife experience, excellent food, or quiet in general. The cabins are a very short walk from the parking lot, as well as the trails (paved & also boardwalk style, going for miles). I recommend going in late January/​February, as these are the months of lowest tourism, AND the eagles winter here, so it is a great time to see the eagles up close as well as experience the beautiful ice falls. I highly recommend light ice cleats for the trails, as they are as heavily used as a suburban sidewalk, & quite slippery during the very cold months.