Texas Tragedy: Flood Sweeps Away Dozens of Girls at Christian Camp
A joyful summer turned into a heartbreaking tragedy in Hunt, Texas, after sudden flash floods ravaged Camp Mystic, a historic Christian girls’ camp. The disaster struck on July 4, washing away cabins, trapping campers, and leaving families in anguish.
The flooding, which caused the Guadalupe River to surge over 26 feet in under an hour, overwhelmed the campgrounds while most children were still asleep.
Officials confirmed that over 27 girls were initially swept away. By Saturday, five young girls aged 8 and 9, along with the camp’s co-owner, Dick Eastland, had been confirmed dead. Ten others, including a counselor, remain missing.
Across the region, the death toll has climbed beyond 79, with dozens of children among the victims.
Camp Mystic, which opened in 1926 and is cherished by generations of Texans, had just welcomed around 750 girls for its July session. Younger campers, housed in riverside cabins like Twins and Bubble Inn, were the hardest hit.
As the floodwaters rose, staff raced to save lives. Dick Eastland was found inside his SUV with three girls he had attempted to rescue. Survivors were later pulled from cabin rooftops and tree branches.
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Inside the campgrounds, muddy water covered floors and tossed bunk beds and personal belongings into disarray. The once vibrant cabins became scenes of despair.
News of the flooding sparked a wave of panic among parents, many of whom had received only brief emails from the camp. One message read: “If your daughter is not accounted for, you have been notified.”
Social media flooded with missing persons posts, as pictures of smiling young girls were shared across Texas in hopes of reunion.
Churches nearby opened their doors to anxious parents. Pastors and volunteers provided emotional support, food, and shelter. “All they want is to hold their children again,” said Pastor Joey Tombrella of First Baptist Church in Kerrville.
Camp Mystic, though non-denominational, has always woven faith into its programs. Campers join in daily devotionals, Sunday services, and evening prayers under the open sky at a hilltop chapel.
A line from one of the camp’s cherished songs now echoes in grief:
“Father in heaven, bless us we pray… Comfort and keep us, Lord, in thy will. Here at Camp Mystic, be with us still.”
Other nearby camps were also affected. Camp La Junta and Camp Waldemar were flooded but managed to safely evacuate all campers. Camp Stewart, not yet in session, escaped major damage.
Just a mile away, Heart O’ the Hills suffered severe flooding, reaching its third floor. The camp’s co-owner, Jane Ragsdale, was among those lost to the disaster.
In contrast, Laity Lodge, a Christian retreat center further upstream, remained unharmed. One of its counselors volunteered in Kerrville, saying, “This could have been us.”
This isn’t the first time the Guadalupe River has brought sorrow. In 1987, a similar flood claimed the lives of ten campers during a Bible camp. Survivors from that time still recall clinging to tree limbs, praying for rescue.
Parenting expert Sissy Goff, who once served at Camp Waldemar, urged families to support children through open conversations and shared healing. “Give them space to grieve and talk,” she advised.
One mother, whose daughter was rescued from a higher cabin, shared that her child sang Mystic songs on the bus ride home. “She was shaken,” the mother said, “but still held on to what she loved most about camp.”
Content Credit | Dada Blessing
Image Credit | christianitytoday.com
