Grand Bear Villa owners forum

Anyone out there a current villa owner at Grand Bear Lodge? Looking to hear from others who are unhappy with the way things are going. Just received another dismal rental income check and more excuses about the outdoor pool and why,(for the 3rd summer in a row!!!!!), they can't seem to get started on construction. I'm really ticked off and not very happy with the way this place is managed. I have owned for three years and we have yet to see an assocition budget,(where are they spending our money??) or an invitation to an association meeting. Is this the way all waterparks are run or do I have a legit complaint? Hope to hear from other owners out there!

After reading your post "angry owner", I am not too sure, but I had been interested in purchasing a villa. Can you and/or others give me some feedback?

Interested Buyer wrote:

After reading your post "angry owner", I am not too sure, but I had been interested in purchasing a villa. Can you and/or others give me some feedback?

I think someone buying now is probably making a good investment. They've finally stopped making cabins and villas and will hopefully get the outdoor pool done. I have owned a villa for 3 years and have yet to make any money. The first year we spent around $15,000.00, the next year $11,000, last year $6,000.00. They were selling in jan. for over 300,000 but two just sold at 259,000 because the owner was filing bankruptcy, so my increased value just died. All I want is for it to break even. There is another resort that is supposed to open up the spring of 2008 (frontierlodge), which I think will actually help us. I believe in the theory that competition actually brings more people in. Unfortunately, the owners of the resort were housing developers, not resort developers, and took longer to get things straightened out. The long and the short of it is, I'm not selling, I'm just hoping that when owners begin to have a voice in the association, and if more owners put pressure on the mgmt company to fix there problems, we might have a great investment here. I think it's going to take time, but i still think it's a great plan. The first resort in a tourist area is usually the one that does the best. I HOPE!

I think all the owners are Very Anggry at Angie and the crew that won't give us a voice .

Can you rent your units directly?
My exteded family and I make several trips there per year and would really like to rent a villa from someone.We have not been too pleased with the customer service there.
Let me know if someone has a unit for Easter weekend. March 22.
Thanks.

Grand Bear is an excellent opportunity to purchase a vacation home. No, it has not been the cash-flow pig that many initial buyers speculated. However, where else can you purchase a vacation home paid down in part by guests in a fabulous natural environment only a short drive from most of us in the metro Chicago area? We use ours frequently and love it. While many owners voice their disappointment with the current structure (I'm not exempt), the pending association turnover gives us all great hope to gain the control we have sought for so long. Angie has always gone to bat for the owners...whether or not management hears her voice is often beyond her control. I would love nothing better than to retain her on "our" books when the turnover is complete. 2008 revenues to date are already a very nice improvement year-over-year which I find pleasing given the current economic pressures. As far as the real estate values are concerned, yes, there were three distress sales last year but the most recent comp was a moderate upward trend...not bad for a weak real estate market. I have already been hearing talk of some great ideas for new amenities and am really looking forward to the change.

HI folks, i can't believe people are finally posting to this site! I first posted a year ago and thought I was the only one who cared. nice to know there are more of us out there! I don't blame Angie for anything. the owners are not forthcoming with information, give tid bits of info that doesn't turn out to be true (ice skating rink, outdoor movie theater, OUTDOOR POOL, abatement in property taxes, etc.), just to name a few. I never expected this thing to make money, i was just hoping to break even by year 3. Unfortunately, year 3 was the worst ever. I just can't believe a word they say. I never see ANY advertising except 1 sign on 294. We have no news on the outdoor pool...i just can't believe that it takes 3 years to get a permit. I have repeatedly asked for the name of a person in the county to call about the permit, thinking pressure from the owners would help...but as usual...not a word from the Joe Hook and gang. I can't wait for the first meeting, hoping to hear some good news. What is this about one selling for 219000? that's really scarry...

It's a shame Grand Bear doesn't look to the local community for employees. Recent layoffs of management staff haven't helped. If Grand Bear wanted to make money why don't they offer family year round passes to the community around them. Local children would love to use the water park and many parents can't understand why it's okay for their little ones to go to the Enchanted Forest only. Especially now since the amusememt park is rarely open. Gift Shops have closed, the resturant is doing badely. I look forward to the Frontier Lodge opening but have my doubts they will have the financing to operate.

We ask all the time about it and they say "Don't Ask"

I find the actions of this less than professional 3 stooges team to be way out of their league.I heard the place is being dumped and nobody will bid.I think we need to organize to protect our rights going forward.This was poorly planned and the management even worse.My fault for listening to this Hook character.

I think we should investigate in a full audit as I hear rumbles that their are major lawsuits for their failure to pay contractors.We must protect our amenities and not let these guys abuse us anymore.

Can't wait for the outdoor pool...I guess they are waiting for the Wal-Mart sale.The truth would be nice and so would a check every 3 years.

Anyone else having problems with the siding falling off their villa? That should be the next big assessment.

I want out of this pie in the sky Hook dream and 219k does not sound bad.

It's a running joke around there for all current employee's that whomever leaves (by resigning)is "getting out alive"

They are also having problems with their workers.

I have made many investments and some have been good and some bad.This one is the worst.I am so disappointed with the management.It is clear they got in way over their heads and would be in a 4 ft pool.Too many promises have been made and not followed through.i never expected to make money just not lose so much.I am concerned about the construction and befuddled by the lack of rental income.This could be a nice place but it needs new management.I have mine up for sale and have been getting low ball bids of 200k.I wish the place was what I was promised.I am still waoting for the outdoor pool that now seems to be the smoking area.I don't see this place improving until some pros start to run it.They did a nice job but have really dropped the ball since.

anyone hear any rumors of a sale and why is the staff leaving? Should I take my loss now or hope things will improve?
Thanks,
Jim

Just a little info here for "owners" ...
I am originally from the area and drive back and forth from Indiana at least once a month to visit family. When the facility was first opened, we drove out to take a look at it, and thought the lodge and buildings, layout, etc. were lovely ...great location, etc. We asked for rate and room information and were told that they didn't have any printed information available and that we'd have to "check back"!??? NO ONE even offered to give us any kind of information.
CHECK BACK??? At the time, thought it was a strange way to answer prospective customers! So, after returning to Indiana, I e-mailed the lodge, requesting information on the lodge, accomodations and rates .. and .. no surprise, received no answer. About a month later, we visited again to have lunch there .. instead we ended up at the lodge in Starved Rock State Park .. again, we were told that they didn't have any printed rates and could e-mail a request.
After my second e-mail to them, and still no reply, we thought, "Wow! This place must be
raking in the bucks so well that they don't even
need new business!.... we also decied that when friends visited the area we would recommend the
lodge at the park rather than Grand Bear!
If I were an owner of a rental unit and had purchased with some hope of a financial recoup, I sure as heck would not be happy with the way that they ignore potential customers.

I am a business owner and would have gladly referred people to the resort. As a business owner, customers and potential customers are at the top of the food chain ... apparently Grand Bear doesn't believe that?... and, if the treatment and lack of information we received is any indication of how customers are generally treated there, you can easily see why units are not being filled!

I completely agree with all of you. I have a friend who actually works at Grand Bear Lodge. She has been working her butt off and they won't give her a raise. She works overtime. Somtimes 13-18 hour shifts with maybe 5 hours in between. Honestly, that's against the Illinois state work laws. So I printed out some legal papers for her to take in to her manager. Her manager actually laughted at her and then with a little reluctance changed her schedual around so that she had 8 hrs or more between shifts. I can completely understand when the workers say if you quit, you're getting out alive. There is also one cook in their kitchen total who is the only one in the entire building (workforce) with a foods license!! So she's there every day for 9-10 hours or more. No days off. She has to be there so that Grand Bear is Legal! LOL

Well I have to say I feel sorry for everyone who owns either a cabin or villa at Grand Bear lodge because of the falling prices of your units and it does not look to get any better out their because the place is so badly managed and to be honest i'm very suprised it is still open or has not been sold by now because the people they have managing Grand Bear are not qualified to manage a lemonade stand alone a multi million dollar piece of property at least in my oppinion. The employees at Grand Bear are not treated very well the pay is very low and time off is a rarity because people are always being pressured into overtime which in turn makes the employees unhappy which then that turns into bad service.I do feel bad for the people that have bought into Grand Bear because unless the people that own Grand Bear learn real quick how to run a property like this or sell it to someone who does it is only going to get worse.

My family and I have traveled to Grand Bear on several occasions. Initially we were huge fans, but the customer service has become so bad- we'll never set foot there again. You'll be lucky to receive $219,000.00.

I just bought one of these villas but I wish I had seen this first.The real estate salesperson told me that $209,000 was a good deal but now several of the other owners told me that you don't get rent checks....ever.I was counting on that to pay the rather high maintenance fees.I bought because it was close and cheap but without a rent check i am going to have some problems.Anyone have any insight on their rental checks.I would appreciate any information because I am sick now.Thanks,Mary

New scared villa owner wrote:

I just bought one of these villas but I wish I had seen this first.The real estate salesperson told me that $209,000 was a good deal but now several of the other owners told me that you don't get rent checks....ever.I was counting on that to pay the rather high maintenance fees.I bought because it was close and cheap but without a rent check i am going to have some problems.Anyone have any insight on their rental checks.I would appreciate any information because I am sick now.Thanks,Mary

Mary I have in the past received a rent check every quarter and it covers about one month of expenses