Good Indoor Waterpark for Ages 1-9

Try Great Bear Lodge, or something like that. It's in Utica Il. I live in Tinley and it only took me about 50min. They have these great townhouse type buildings for larger families to stay in. Has 2 bedrooms, full kitchen, laundry room...and the price was only a little more than one of the hotel rooms. They have heated shuttles to pick up and drop off at the villas. Food is OK...Not much around that area, so bring food with to cook in the kitchen. Hope this helps.

Do you want to stay in a hotel or just have a day trip? There's Pelican Harbor in Bolingbrook for a day trip. Dh and I have gone to the Holiday Inn Express on Zellman Rd. at the southern edge of Milwaukee. It has a mini waterpark great for my 6 and 3 year olds. It even has a mini-water slide both the kids loved and I got to try. They have poolside rooms, but we go for the big rooms with kid suites--bunk beds, a desk and a tv/dvd set up in the little kid room with a french door separating it from the main room, and the speakers by the bunks, so they don't bug you in the main room.

YES! In the Arlington Park Racetrack Sheraton hotel. The waterpark is called Coco Key and here's the link: http://www.cocokeyresort.com/index.php?/ArlingtonHeights/...

I spent a weekend there with my brother, sister, their spouses and everyone's kids and it was fun! My teenagers were slightly bored, but everyone 12 had a blast!

Co-Co Key in the Clock Tower Inn in Rockford is very good for the little ones. You can either go for the day and pay the day rate or get a room and spend the night. They usually have a special going on - especially on Friday nights. It has a great water park for all ages. I have a 3, 5, and 11 year old and they all enjoy it. It also has a pretty large game room which the kids love. I like it because it's never overcrowded.

The Grand Bear Lodge in Utica is great too. The bonus is that they also have an indoor amusement park which you can take advantage of if you are a hotel guest. Also, you have Starved Rock across the street. If your nine year old wants to go for a snowy hike - that could be a lot of fun too. Don't eat at Jack's Steakhouse - very overpriced and not very good.

Might want to look at a lodge by Starved Rock, I think it is called Grand Bear Lodge. They even have an indoor amusement park.

There is a nice waterpark in Utica.I think its called the grand Bear resort. It also has an indoor amusement park.
It is located by Starved Rock. P.

We went to Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear in Utica, IL near Starved Rock last month for one night and we had wonderful time. It is small enough to keep track of everyone and big enough to have TONS of fun. The food at the restaurant was YUMMY and there is a game room too - we had fun in there. Oh and they have an indoor amusement park but the operating hours were strange. We went from a Monday to a Tuesday - the rate was $129 or something - SO CHEAP!

Here is the website...

http://www.grizzlyjacksresort.com/

Hope this helps!
B. :)

There is one in Shipshewana Indiana about 2 hours and 15 minutes from Chicago. http://wanawaves.splashuniverse.com/?gclid=CJa1npnf0ZECFS...

I have boys ages 5 and 9 and they loved it.

We stayed at Holiday Inn Mayan Adventure in Elmhurst and it was pretty nice. I recommend an inside room though because the outside rooms are cold. I have heard the waterpark in Utica is nice, but pricy.

I heard there's a place in Gurnee, but the name escapes me right now...

Hi,
I just got back yesterday from Grand Bear Lodge in Utica,Il(by starved rock).We stayed in a cabin with two other families .We had alot of fun.We have stayed there before in a regular room and it was nice. I have gone to the one in Arlington Heights and it was cold in there so it wasn't as fun since being wet and cold doesn't work.
C.

Grand Bear Lodge (I believe it's in Ottawa) is a great water park and is much smaller and closer than the Dells. I live in Tinley Park and it is about 45 minutes from me (I live in the Will county part of Tinley Park, so I am already a bit more south). It is definetely less expensive and has an enclosed area that has about 8-10 carnival rides in addition to the indoor waterpark. My kids love it.

Grand Bear Lodge in Utica is great. Especially for little ones. It is about 45minutes away. Have fun!

Grandbear lodge, utica, illinois

Try coco keys waterpark

We love Grand Bear Lodge in Ottawa/Starved Rock area. Only an hour away.

Hi.

There is supposed to be a pretty nice, new waterpark at Starved Rock. I'm sure you can find it online. I have not been there yet but have had many recommendations from friends/family. Good luck.

A.

J.,
Arlington Height's has a great water park Indoor at The Sheraton Hotel. It's location is on Euclid Road Next Door to Arlington Park Horse Racing Track. We had a great time with my 5yr & 2yr old when we went last year. There is a smaller waterpark in the Holiday Inn in Elmhurst Ill. I heard it's a great time too. Last year I did some on line searching of indoor water parks in Chicago on surrounding areas. Have a great time K.

There is a new one in Arlington Heights, Coca Keys I think, it's with the Sheraton in Arlington Heights.

my sister just went to one in rockford very affordable

If you come to Bolingbrook the Park District has a FAB indoor water park.

There is a no depth area for the babies and a little slide as well as big slides for the kids. You can check the hours but then you wouldn't have to even get a hotel its probably only about a 45 min drive from you!!

Opening February 29, 2008 is the new waterpark in Gurnee, IL called KEYLIME COVE. It is a Resort and Water Park. Go to keylimecove.com for more info.

My husband and I have taken our 3 kids to both Grand Bear Lodge in Utica (less than a mile from the entrance to Starved Rock on interstate 80) and to Timber Ridge Resort and Water park outside Lake Geneva, WI. From the near western suburbs, it is quicker for us to go to Lake Geneva. We have been to the one in Lake Geneva about 5 times and only once to Grand Bear. You can get a one or two bedroom unit (or even bigger units) at both. We have only gotten the two bedroom units with a pull out couch to accommodate all of us. They both have kitchens and fireplaces and most everything you need except the food. There is a ton of things for younger children at both places and it is always a great time at both, but there is more space in the pool area at Timber Ridge. I felt crowded at the water park at Grand Bear. There is a wave pool at Grand Bear and not at Timber Ridge though. I encourage bringing food or going to a local store and stocking up on foods that you can make in your kitchen because the food is so expensive at both. You can even bring your own alcohol into the pool area as long as you have paper cups. Lake Geneva, WI is a great town. It is on Geneva Lake and has fun bars and shopping. Utica, IL is itty bitty, but Starved Rock State Park is a great park that you would want to visit at least. In the spring, summer and fall Starved Rock is the greatest park with tons to do. (Winter maybe too, but I hate the cold weather!) However, the good thing is you don't have to even leave your hotel at either places if you don't want. We never do.
The one time we went to Grand Bear, we stayed in a big log house, but it was so far from the pool we wanted to take the shuttle that came around every once in awhile. (Kinda a pain, but the 1 and 2 bedroom rooms I think are close to the pool.)
Have fun no matter where you travel. It is always to good to get away!!

Big Bear Resort in Utica, IL is close to the S.W. suburbs and is appropriate for smaller children. There are also hotels in Elmhurst, IL and Arlington Heights, IL with waterparks. A new place in Gurnee, IL opens the end of February (close to Great America).

I just booked the one in Elmhurt, IL it is a called Mayan Adventure, it was pretty cheap in price $129.00 a night with 3 days of water park passes 4 are included. Plus they deliver pizza to your room for dinner both nights.

It has a very nice little kids area which is what I was looking for. I am going this weekend so I will let you know how it goes.

There is also one in Rockford, IL called CoCo Key and one in Utica at starved rock Grand bear resort. that one is really nice with an arcade but it is also $259.00 per night, not sure what you were looking to spend.

If you get any good responses can you let me know too? Thanks! Amanda

Grand Harbor resort and waterpark in Dubuque, Iowa is a great one!!

Timber Ridge Lodge and Waterpark in Lake Geneve, WI is a blast. I know, sounds far, but it's not a bad drive. I'm in the South Suburbs and we did this trip "instead of" the regular Wisc. Dells thing a while back (the Dells is just too far for spur of the moment). Just over the IL/WI border. Stayed a few nights. Awesome water park for the ages you mentioned. You can go for the day or stay overnight. For something like $99 dollars, there's a package in there that gives you 5 waterpark passes and a suite to use from afternoon thru evening. I've spent at least that much on dinner and a movie for the 5 of us here.
Very nice and extremely comfortable accommodations; hotel rooms are all suites with kitchenettes, fireplace, etc.... and the rates are not any different than regular hotel rates. There are overnight packages, day packages.... check it out.