{"id":29192,"date":"2025-09-28T13:30:24","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T17:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=29192"},"modified":"2025-09-28T13:30:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T17:30:24","slug":"camp-mystic-makes-controversial-decision-after-27-people-died-during-flooding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2025\/09\/camp-mystic-makes-controversial-decision-after-27-people-died-during-flooding","title":{"rendered":"Camp Mystic Makes Controversial Decision After 27 People Died During Flooding"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Left: campmystic.com | Right: KHOU 11 \/ YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Families in Texas are still reeling after the 4th<\/sup> of July flood that killed over 130 people, including 27 staffers and campers at Camp Mystic. Yet, despite the devastating loss, Camp Mystic sent an email stating it planned to reopen next summer, coinciding with the camp\u2019s 100-year anniversary. The camp\u2019s main campus will not be the site reopening due to \u201cdevastating damage,\u201d but its sister site, Camp Mystic Cyprus Lake will. The email also stated that the camp plans to build a memorial for the 25 campers and two counselors that were killed during the flood. \u201cWe hope this space will serve as a place of reflection and remembrance of these beautiful girls. We continue to pray for the grieving families and all those who lost loved ones,\u201d according to the statement. Plans to rebuild the main campus are still being considered, although cabins that were flooded during the flood will not be used.<\/p>\n

The camp\u2019s decision to reopen drew controversy for several reasons. First, following the aftermath of the flood, the camp drew criticism for its lack of preparedness in the event of a flood. The camp\u2019s lack of an outdoor warning system was criticized. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation after the flood requiring \u201clocal governments in flood-prone areas to install outdoor siren and warning systems.\u201d The legislation also required camps to \u201cinstall and maintain emergency alert systems, train staff on evacuation routes and procedures \u2026 develop emergency plans, require cabins to be located away from flood plains, (and) be able to communicate with campers and staff during emergencies.\u201d Camp Mystic\u2019s statement included its intention to implement a new plan to comply with the new state standards.<\/p>\n

The plan to reopen received outrage from victims\u2019 families. \u201cThe truth is, Camp Mystic failed our daughters. For the camp, it seems like nothing more than a brief pause before business as usual,\u201d said Cici Steward<\/a>, whose 8-year-old daughter, Cile, was lost during the floods. Her body has yet to be recovered. \u201cCamp Mystic is pressing ahead with reopening, even if it means inviting girls to swim in the same river that may potentially still hold my daughter\u2019s body.\u201d Katie and Clarke Baker, whose eight-year-old daughter Mary Grace was killed in the flood, called the reopening part of an \u201congoing nightmare.\u201d \u201cOur families are living an ongoing nightmare. Less than three months after 27 girls lost their lives \u2014 under circumstances we believe were preventable \u2014 Camp Mystic is already announcing plans to reopen,\u201d said the Bakers<\/a>. Representatives for the families have stated they were not consulted about the reopening or the memorial. The camp justified its decision in a statement to ABC News<\/a>. \u201cOur decision to partially reopen areas of the camp is informed by our faith and our commitment to continue the nearly century-long mission and ministry of Camp Mystic to provide a Christian camping experience for girls that allows them to grow physically, mentally and spiritually.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Families in Texas are still reeling after the 4th of July flood that killed over 130 people, including 27 staffers and campers at Camp Mystic. Yet, despite the devastating loss, Camp Mystic sent an email stating it planned to reopen next summer, coinciding with the camp\u2019s 100-year anniversary. The camp\u2019s main campus will not be…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":29195,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29192","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nCamp Mystic Makes Controversial Decision After 27 People Died During Flooding<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After a flood killed 27 at Camp Mystic, the Texas girls\u2019 camp plans to reopen for its 100th year, sparking grief, outrage, and controversy.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2025\/09\/camp-mystic-makes-controversial-decision-after-27-people-died-during-flooding\" \/>\n<meta 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