Brightwood Inn

Thank you Brightwood Inn for the wonderful stay for our 21st Anniversary. John and Jo did not disappoint! Accomodations are clean, comfortable, and beautiful. We enjoyed watching birds and relaxing on the back deck or gazebo as we enjoyed the quiet surroundings and sipped wine from the nearby August Hill Winery. John's homemade breakfasts were good and the Aronia berry muffins and jelly were to die for! We liked it so much that we purchased some jelly to take home. It was nice to have complimentary sodas available and the homemade cookies were a nice touch as well. John made good suggestions for dinner and we chose Duffy's and Skoog's in Utica. Both restaurants are very unassuming from the outside, but both had outstanding meals and service. We thoroughly enjoyed our unplanned visit to the August Hill Winery where guests of Brightwood receive a free tasting, which is usually around $3 a piece. I think we tasted about 8 different wines. I wish the Inn would have told us about the discount ahead of time, though. We found out about it through casual talk with the worker at the winery. I wonder if there were any other discounts we could have received as guests of the Inn but didn't know about. The Inn is located just 4 miles from Starved Rock State Park and is surrounded by Matthieson State Park. We were a little disappointed in Starved Rock. We had a good time, but it was nothing compared to Turkey Run in Southern Indiana. However, we didn't have time to explore the enitre park and surely could have missed some of the beauty the park has to offer. Matthieson was much smaller but much more scenic and had more beautiful caverns and waterfalls. Overall, our experience was outstanding! We almost stayed at a nearby hotel that cost more than our room at the Inn and I am soooo glad we changed our plans. I would highly recommend the Brightwood Inn for anyone who wants a peaceful getaway. We will definitely be back! Scott & Diane Morrow Hebron, Indiana

I am SO glad the rooms at the Starved Rock lodge were booked! I had an amazing, spacious room and my own fireplace. It was very quiet and peaceful and my breakfast was de-leesh. Staff was very very friendly. I will definitely be back!! -Paula Sandor

My boyfriend and I stayed here for our first-ever weekend away. It was an easy drive from Chicago. We were very impressed by the house. It is well-maintained, spacious, and very clean. We saw all of the rooms and they are all even prettier than their pictures! Breakfast was delicious. I especially loved their homemade jams! Jo and John, the hosts, were so kind to us. The house is adjacent to Matthiessen State Park which we liked hiking even more than Starved Rock. (Apparently, Matthiessen is where the locals go!)

My visit to The Brightwood on 03 May was wonderful. Jo and John are wonderful hosts that made the stay a great experience. In addition to their warm hospitality, they provided good advice and tips for our adventures around the area. The property is lovely, and the rooms were nicer than the pictures depict online. Breakfast in the morning was the perfect thing to wake up to, made with tasty fresh ingredients and served with unique homemade jam and marmalade. Next time I stay in the area, I will be sure to use The Brightwood Inn again. Thanks Jo & John! Brian

The room was spacious and well appointed. The setting is lovely and the breakfast was excellent. The staff were all courteous and helpful. We will definitely stay here again should we be in the area.

We have stayed at Brightwood many times & every time is just as wonderful as the 1st time. Sharon & Kevin give such an outstanding sevice with special touches for all guests ( including special requests & recommendations for sites to visit or dine) August Hill Winery gave a free a taste of 6 different wines & 10% off of purchases for staying at Brightwood. The restaurant recommended in Ottawa-- Alberto's was divine w/new twists to many dishes (dessert was to die for) & service was outstanding. There was bottle of champagne & homemade truffles waiting for us in our rooms. It was a wonderful weekend! Carol Pruim

Recommended by a friend and got a good deal for Valentines weekend. It was very clean and we would come again when they have another weekend special. The tub was awesome, and it would be alot nicer if we went during the summer or fall months.

We just stayed this week, and we were impressed with the comfort and hospitality of our visit. We stayed in the Aspen room on the third floor, which had a great view and spacious lodging. We got an online deal for the two nights we stayed, and it turned out to be the best bed and breakfast we've ever stayed at. We'll definitely be back and will refer friends. Thank you!

Very pleased with the accommodations. The proprietors were very friendly and helpful. The room was excellent and spacious. Hot water ran out on the jacuzzi, probably because so many people were using theirs at the same time. It was a very pleasant stay, despite the drizzly, gray weather outside.

[Resource Id: innkeeperresponse, Set: reviews]
Thank you so much for alerting us about this problem before you left. We were able to adjust the temperature on the water heaters so it has not happened again. We sincerely enjoyed having you stay with us and we hope you will visit us again.

- Kevin & Sharon (innkeeper)

we noticed that most of the people that come through the brightwood inn are not as young as us...and after reading some of the reviews, i was some what afraid of how Jo would react to us. contradictory to most of the reviews, we found Jo very welcoming and friendlly. the rooms were amazing. we got a chance to peak into the other rooms since most of them were vacant..planning on staying in tortola next!..breakfast was also great!!....would definitely recommend this place to a friend

My husband and I stayed there for our 7 year anniversary and chose the Tortola room. We were very surprised at how nice and cozy the room was. The double heads in the shower were amazing as well as the soft water and coffee maker in the the large bathroom. Pleasantly impressed! We are looking forward to staying in other rooms there each anniversary.

Good people at the Brightwood Inn. They make you feel at home and comfortable, at affordable prices. I will be going back to the Brightwood Inn.

We're repeat customers, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. John and Jo are fantastic hosts, and are always fun and interesting to talk to. The rooms are very cozy and comfortable, and breakfast is always excellent. We like Brightwood Inn well enough to recommend it to our friends. We wouldn't hesitate to send anyone there, and are confident they would enjoy it too.

I stayed at Brightwood Inn the weekend of 11-26 (Johanssen) and we were SOOOO impressed with everything about the Inn. The caretakers were fabulous!!! The accommodations were beautiful, unique and spotlessly clean. Breakfast was wonderful and we HATED to leave!!! It's a definite return trip!!! Thanks Brightwood!!!! Mitch Johanssen Susan Dew

My wife and I were seeking a relaxing weekend escape to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. The Brightwood Inn was perfect! We enjoyed our room tremendously and the view from it's picture window was awesome. The Inn's owners were helpful regarding dining in the area and activities and the establishment very quiet and clean. Loved the location and its proximity to local sites and activities. Would stay there again in a minute.

Nice stay - first time in area. We wish we would have stayed in the room longer and enjoyed the Inn instead of venturing downtown - even on a Saturday afternoon stores close early.

Nice relaxing location. The carpet in the room had multiple stains on it and made me want to keep our shoes on. Water was rusty. Breakfast was great and John was very courteous and talkative, Jo however didn't seem to interested in talking to us or receiving feedback (other guests not locking the door). Very weak coffee but fabulous Banana Pancakes!

The Brightwood Inn was a pleasant stay and I enjoyed the area. The room was very nice and kept well. The breakfast was good and the additional treats that were provided were amazing. The little extras that the Inn provides made the stay extra special.

Great room and a wonderful breakfast made with fresh ingredients . Will staty here again if in the area.

My husband and I stayed at Brightwood Inn to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The rooms were lovely and comfortable. We enjoyed having cookies and soda by the fireplace in the library after a long day of hiking through Starved Rock State Park. Breakfast was excellent! The tap water in our room tasted funny (probably well water). Also, it was rare to find someone at the front desk. Overall, it was a great weekend!

The location was perfect for the hiking and biking that we wanted to do. The people were very friendly and the rooms were wonderful.

We enjoyed our stay at the Brightwood. It was definitely clean and the food was good, although the Sunday morning brunch voucher for $15.00 for 2 people was a little strange. I always assume that breakfast is included at a Bed and Breakfast. They are definitely into marketing, they have a little gift shop where everything has the B&B name on it! The innkeepers have a little bit of a lack luster personality for a B&B. John is a seemingly relaxed cool guy but Jo kinda makes you feel like your not really welcome and she is doing you a huge favor by allowing you to pay too much to stay at her B&B. Luckily we did not have too many encounters with Jo or the other guests to cause a problem. Other than that we enjoyed our stay. The hiking at the nearby parks was great and the canoeing on the Fox was wonderful!

Excellent room w/ large whirlpool bath, friendly staff, and wonderful breakfast. I would come again.

We were visiting Starved Rock and are glad we stayed here. It was a bit further down the road but well worth it. The rooms were wonderful and everyone was very helpful and friendly. The Jacuzzi tub was fabulous (especially since we had ridden our bicycles there-about 40 miles from our starting point)…plenty of hot water to relieve the aching muscles. Breakfast was great and the snacks were fabulous! We would definitely stay here again! Thank you for the great Inn!

The view from our room was beautiful. Our bed was so spacious and cozy. Wine-tasting at the August Hill Winery was very enjoyable.

Wonderful hosts and room, we will definitely come back again.

brunch on Sunday was wonderful - good food and fresh local produce bed was so comfy and being in the country was nice and quiet wonderful hosts and a definate place to come back to and stay and eat!

Great place, will be back. Would be willing to upgrade next time most likely. A hidden gem.

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful time at Brightwood. The owners were friendly and made an excellent dinner recommendation (the Uptown Grill was delicious). The whole place was very clean and quiet, the library provided a nice place to read and relax, and the Sunday brunch was amazing. All of this in a beautiful house surrounded by gardens, farms, and a view of Matthiessen Park.

My husband and I ended up having to make a last-minute change in travel plans, and we decided to try Brightwood. We were blown away by the details there. If you are looking for furniture from years gone by, you'll be disappointed. But, if pleasant but not overbearing hospitality; food made from ingredients that are steps from the front porch; comfortable beds and a lovely wrap-around porch to relax on...you will be happy you booked here.

We stayed for two nights - Friday and Saturday. We selected Brightwood based on other reviews noting its cleanliness and gracious hosts. The first quality was undeniable, though the second was mixed. Jo and John were nice enough, but it looked like you'd have to pay extra to get a smile. The rooms were already pricey enough. They did upgrade our room when we discovered that the first room's AC was not functioning properly, and that was appreciated. Part of the mixed graciousness is built into the system, though. We were treated to a terrific breakfast on Saturday morning, cooked with homegrown everything, and we were offered refills and pastries and more. This was an unexpectedly gracious meal. Sunday brunch, on the other hand, could be described as stingy. I'm not sure if this is a common practice, but I've never encountered it: Rather than receiving a "complimentary" breakfast, as on Saturday morning, we were given a $13 credit toward our meal. Ok, what does $13 buy you? It will get you two entrees - for example, each person could have a plain omelet. Tea and coffee were included, and please don't forget to tip the waitress. This was a departure from the previous breakfast, which looked like it would have cost $40 for two people, according to the menu. It's not the kind of thing that ruins a vacation, not at all. Yet, we always look forward to the "breakfast" part of the bed and breakfast experience, and this one was disappointing. Everything else was terrific - the rooms are clean, bright, and have distinct personalities. Jo offered us plenty of information about the state parks, and John helped us feel at home. The homemade cookies in the library are a nice touch, and the view from our room was beautiful. A nice perk is that both of the local wineries offered us free tastings because we were staying at the Brightwood Inn - they appear to put a premium on supporting local businesses.

I absolutely love the Brightwood Inn. My husband and I were celebrating our 11 years of marriage. We have never been to a Bed & Breakafast before, so I have to say this was the perfect place to go to based on a the great reviews and most likely we will be returning back very soon! One word I would describe The Bright wood Inn is COZY. It's the perfect romantic getaway for lovers! Minerva,

Everything was perfect. The room was clean and spacious. The host was friendly and helpful. The food was amazing and the price for dinner and breakfast was an unbelievable value. A perfect weekend get-a-way.

We spent two nice days there and we are absolutely enchanted. Brightwood Inn is so beautiful place - very romantic and comfortable, with nice library, cozy living room with fireplace and big garden around. Service was really great. Dinner and breakfast were fabulous.

Room & view were beautiful! We had a great time & would definitely stay again. It was a wonderful romantic getaway.

A bit pricey, meals were also expensive, but delicious and well prepared. Service was unsophisticated but very adequate. Quiet area, convenient to the Matheissen Forest Preserve for nice walks.

A delightful home away from home tucked into the Northern Illinois heartland. Just a few minutes away from Starved Rock State Park, it was a welcome place indeed after a day of hiking. We didn't eat dinner here, but the breakfast was absolutely fantastic. And the room was an oasis, with a lovely view over the immediately adjacent Matthiessen State Park.

Rooms were very nicely decorated and Clean. The staff is very friendly. Talking to them about booking the entire building for Family Retreat.

Very charming, bright, spacious & clean. Could use a fridge/microwave (-:

This is a lovely B&B, far exceeding expectations. The location is conveniently near, but not too near, two major highways. The rooms are large and extremely comfortable, and all the extras make for a special lodging. Plan to include at least one dinner during your stay; the kitchen does a great job.

Stayed for an event at the nearby Starved Rock State Park and usually stay at their lodge but will never again after staying here! This is immediately down the road from the State Park but such a treat! Beautiful rooms, very comfortable, clean and luxurious for an inn with bath salts, cookies in the library. There is no uncomfortable feelings of being in someones home as the inn keepers live off-site. Fine dining restaurant for dinners and breakfasts on-site although we only did breakfast- quiche and muffins were amazing! We were leaving early for a hike event and they prepared us a special early muffin/coffee since we had to leave before normal breakfast hours.

My husband and I recently stayed at the Brightwood Inn for our 6th anniversary. We were pleasantly surprised with how nice our room was. We stayed in Sequoia and it was quite a spacious room and bath. Dinner that evening was exceptional, with graet service in the dining room. We highly recommend it, and hope to go back soon. It was a much needed quiet retreat!

Beautifully built/decorated/comfortable residence and rates were affordable. Rooms are more than adequate in size and nicely decorated. Inn keepers happy to help with questions. We will return on our next trip.

Starved Rock State park is a must see and this is the place you must stay. No other place like it around the area. Wonderful owners and staff and 5 star food to boot. Will be staying there again.

Sharon was working the evening we arrived and was DELIGHTFUL. Nothing was too much trouble;she was very friendly and personable. In fact, every interaction we had with Sharon over the weekend was a pleasure. Unfortunately, this was not the same with the older couple. Asking for anything felt like I was imposing on them. Most often my requests were met with a heavy sigh and a statement of how it could be done but. . .; an example of this was to just to get extra shampoo!!! If these folks want return customers, they might want to work on their interpersonal skills of warmth and engagement. We saved up for quite a while to spend this weekend with each other and really wanted it to be special. If it hadn't been for Sharon and the quality of the meals, I would have been so disappointed. Having a beautiful place that is clean and well appointed is only half of the equation. You must be able to connect with your customers and show them that you are interested in them, care about them and want them to be there. If you do, they will return. . . if you don't, they won't come back. It really is that simple.

This was a wonderful bed & breakfast! The owners were amazingly helpful and attentive and our room was SPECTACULAR. The view was amazing, the jacuzzi was wonderful and the room was clean and well kept. Bed was super comfy too. The room rate was a little steep for winter, but worth the price in relaxation!

This was our second stay within 6 months. The place is well kept, rooms very clean and the hospitality exceptional. The food is excellent, the Innkeepers working on expanding the restaurant part of it, dinner and breakfast outstaning. Highly recommend this place, close to Starved Rock, and town with much to explore.

My husband and I had a wonderful stay at Brightwood Inn! The facility is beautiful, and the rooms are just wonderful ... definitely a place I will tell my family and friends about. Nichole and Doug Barnett Hudson, IL

My only complaint is that there is often a little too much room-to-room noise or sounds through the walls. In all likelihood, this issue could be resolved if each room had a "white noise" sound machine, which would drown out most of the offending sounds and replace them with the sounds of waterfalls, etc.

Beautiful Bed and Breakfast in a nice location, bordering a state park. Inside, it's roomy and elegant. We especially like the comfortable bed and the fireplace, as well as the library. Highly recommended.

The room was very nice with a fireplace and jacuzzi. The inn had a library that was nice. It is a cozy place. Quiet and relaxing. The people working were friendly and gave good service. Great place.

A night away from our busy schedule. Total relaxation and comfort. Very clean & quiet room, wonderful breakfast. Just what we needed!

It was a nice, relaxing stay during a busy, family-filled holiday. Being 5 1/2 months pregnant, my husband and I wanted to ensure I had a place to relax away from the large family get-together. The Brightwood Inn was just that! The room was a comfortable size and all facilities were very clean. The innkeepers were very welcoming and breakfast was quite good as well! We would definitely recommend anyone to stay here!

We were very pleased that we chose this Inn for our overnight visit to Starved Rock. Our room (Door County) was very large, decorated beautifully, and had a fireplace, which made it extra warm and cozy! The home itself was spacious and very welcoming, as were in Inn keepers. Breakfast was delicious and plentiful. We would definitely come back here again!

Spacious arrangements, friendly owners, great food, incredible location and scenery. The full-service "honor bar" was a nice touch for the end of the day. We will go back.

This is a very well kept place. We enjoyed the hot tub and fireplace in our room. The supper was a treat. This was a nice place to celebrate our anniversary.

Beautiful Inn right by a very scenic trail in the park. The staff was courteous and helpful. The room was very nice. We enjoyed it very much and hope to return next year.

I was in the area for a weekend of wedding events...so nice to come "home" between events rather than to a hotel/motel.

We enjoyed our stay at Brightwood Inn. Every thing was very nice. We would rate the dinning higher except that while we were there no dinner was served. On the web site it was noted that dinner was served Sunday thru Thursday, when we arrived there we found out from the literature in the room it was served only Thursday thru Sunday and not on the Sunday we arrived because of special circumstances. All in all we would recommend the Inn, just check on the dinner schedule if you wish to eat there.

We had a great time at the Brightwood Inn. We throughly enjoyed our time and the experience. I would wholehearted recommend it to anyone for a get away week with your loved one. Anne Thinnes

This was our fourth time to stay at Brightwood Inn and it was again a great time. The rooms are fantastic and the owners are very nice. The breakfast was great. The view from the rooms is wonderful. This is a great place for a getaway.

We had a wonderful stay at the Brightwood Inn. The Inn was beautiful and our room was bright and comfortable. We enjoyed both dinner and breakfast. Our trip to the nearby Starved Rock state park was breathtaking and we would highly recommend a getaway at the Brightwood Inn.

Everyone at the Brightwood Inn was very nice, and the rooms/dining were spot on. We will definitely be back!

It's a very comfortable, friendly environment! It feels like home!

We decided to stay at the Brightwood Inn near Starved Rock. We were extremly satisfied with our stay at this beautiful B&B. Located in the middle o beautiful corn fields, this Inn is just so romantic. I will definitley be staying at this place again. We really enjoyed the inn keepers and the hot tube located in the room. Pick the Brightwood and you won't be disappointed.

From homemade tomato preserves, to John's frittata - the lovely gardens - flower & vegetable - to the beautiful home in and of itself - it was such a treat to rest our weary bones in Turkey Run after a day of hiking in Matthiessen State Park and a perfect choice to introduce my 12 year old daughter to the wonders of the bed and breakfast stay!

My husband and I have stayed at the Brightwood Inn so many times we have stayed in every room more than once. Tortola is our favorite. We have gotten to know the Innkeepers very well and we have even taken care of the Inn when their daughter got married. (lot of work) It makes me sad to see a review less than glowing so when I read the review from August 10 about the Innkeepers not being friendly I called Jo. As it turns out her brother had passed away. I can understand how sadness can be misconstrued as not friendly. As it turns out their housekeeper's son was being shipped off to Pakistan so they had a temp who had an emergency with her daughter and had to leave in the middle of cleaning. Not a good weekend for the Innkeepers of the Brightwood Inn. I hope that review will not dter anyone because the Brightwood Inn is 5 star wonderful. As are John and Jo.

The innkeeper wasn't as friendly as we have found to be innkeepers to be at other bed & breakfasts we have stayed at. Also, we did not get maid service as we were supposed to. We noticed a number of times that there were blankets or pillows or other items left around somewhere in the inn as if someone had been in the middle of tidying up and had gotten distracted and not finished.

Beautiful rooms, great breakfast, and a lot of privacy.

Brightwood Inn was a perfect place for our cousin reunion! The inn is charming, very comfortable and homey - located in the country so very private and peaceful - located near Starved Rock Park. Many amenities - highly recommend to others looking for a restful place to stay.

Our second visit, tried a different room, equally comfortable. Beautiful views, great bathrooms/whirlpool tubs. We will return!

Two cousins and I thoroughly enjoyed our two nights at Brightwood Inn. The accommodations, food and the beautiful country setting were great, as were the hosts, Jo and John.

My husband and I stayed at Brightwood for our first anniversary weekend. We wanted to stay somewhere nice, peaceful, and relaxing because we planned to spend our day hiking at Starved Rock. Brightwood met all our expectations and more! The room, house, and grounds were absolutely beautiful! We stayed in the Sequoia room which I would definitely recommend (great views!). Everything was very clean. I really felt like I was staying in a room of luxury. And the breakfasts are fantastic. We had two morning meals at the B&B and both were delicious and kept us full all day long! The only downside to our stay was that the TV was not working. We thought it was just the satelite cable but when we tried to relax and watch a movie one evening, the TV buzzed and made too much noise for us to watch. Everything else about this B&B was fantastic! We'd definitely come back and stay again!

My husband and I stayed at the Brightwood Inn for our 3rd anniversary. The inn is in a beautiful, country setting with tended gardens and a welcoming entrance. There are various rooms to use on the lower level (library, bar, sitting room, etc.) as well as a small gift shop. The room was beautiful and clean, and all amenities were available, as well as free soda, bottled water, cookies, and appetizers in the evening. The breakfast was well prepared, and the dining room very comfortable. And although we felt welcome, we didn't feel the comraderie we have felt at other inns. There was little visiting with the staff and other guests, and I missed the 'neighborliness' of other b and b's we have stayed in. Overall though, it was a very nice stay! :)

We absolutely loved staying here. We stayed in the room called "Turkey Run". The bed had a down comforter and down pillows so it was super comfy. We could have slept all day! The landscaping and outdoor patio is beautiful. We layed in the hammock out there and watched the sunset go down one evening. It was the little details that made our stay so special, like the homemade cookies in the library and the fresh herbs from the garden in our omelette. The room and entire house is decorated with great taste and everything is well cared for. The innkeepers were very hospitable and friendly. The breakfast was delicious, too. We did not want to leave this place! It is so beautiful and a perfect place to relax.

The Torotola room is heavenly! As soon as you open the door and see the view from the bay window it is just breathtaking.....We had an amazing anniversary stay at this inn...We drank wine sitting out on the patio and took in the serene environment, 2 person hammock is out there as well as a gazebo with all sorts of landscaping and flowers....the inn keepers are very pleasant folks and provide a terrific breakfast & service....this bed and breakfast is nicely decorated and very clean, if you are looking for peace and quiet then this is the place and yet still close to area activities and a number of quaint places with delicious food.

I stayed at the Brightwood Inn over the Christmas holiday while visiting family. It was a wonderful experience, it felt like home. The breakfasts were marvelous and the hosts were extremely accommodating. Staying here is a definite must for anyone visiting the Illinois Valley Area. I will definitely be back again!!!!!

We have been going to the Brightwood Inn since 2001 and have stayed in every room. We love this place! Only 90 miles from Chicago so we can even make a one night stay work. The inn is so clean! Six of the rooms have whirlpools and the other two are a bit less expensive but just as comfortable. On our last visit we really appreciated the fireplace - so cozy. Breakfast if always great. Fruit, coffee cake, cereal and a hot entree. There are lots of little taverns and restaurantes in the area. Our favorites are the Nodding Onion and Duffy's. Don't miss the tasting room at August Hill Winery. Starved Rock and Matthison State parks are wonderful for hiking. The Ryans always make us feel at home at the Brightwood!

I love this place! I love to see the billion stars lighting up the sky. Living in the city you rarely get to see the brilliance of them. I love how it is so quiet outside the Inn and inside you feel like you have to tiptoe everywhere so you don't disturb the beauty of the silence. The beds are super comfy, the rooms are very spacious, and the enormous hot tubs are delightful. The full breakfasts are delicious, you leave feeling full, warm and content and just want to crawl back into your warm bed and never want to leave.