Posted on 09/25/2025 5:02:43 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The parents of the only girl still missing from the catastrophic July 4 flood that tore through Camp Mystic in Texas are demanding that the camp halt its plans to reopen.
Officials announced this week that they plan to reopen part of the camp next year and build a memorial to the 25 campers and two teenage counselors who died. The body of 8-year-old camper Cile Steward wasn’t recovered.
The reopening plan has drawn fierce complaints from some of the victims’ families, who said they weren’t consulted.
“To promote reopening less than three months after the tragedy — while one camper remains missing — is unthinkable,” CiCi and Will Steward wrote to Camp Mystic officials in a letter released Thursday.
“We call on Camp Mystic to halt all discussions of reopening and memorials,” they wrote. “Instead, Cile must be recovered, and you must fully confront and account for your role in the events and failures that caused the deaths of our daughters.”
Camp Mystic’s owners include the wife and other family members of Dick Eastland, who also died in the flooding.
Camp officials indicated that they would move ahead with their plan to reopen part of the camp.
“Our 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,” the camp said Thursday in a statement.
Camp officials added that they welcome participation from the families as they plan the memorial.
The children and counselors who died have become known as “Heaven’s 27.” The letter was signed by CiCi and Will Steward “on behalf of ourselves and other families of the Heaven’s 27.”
It wasn’t immediately clear if...
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
So sad- i have prayed almost every night that they recover this poor girl’s body...
If we quit using places where people died we’d have to abandon the entire planet.
Texans.
True, to some extent. I wouldn’t include flood plains in that however.
If it's so dangerous, shouldn't we just outlaw people going anywhere near the Guadalupe, much less in it?
It is very unfortunate what happened, but we need to get back to living. If they’ve taken proper measures to ensure a non-repeat, the camp should reopen.
Going down to/into the river for recreation is one thing. Building housing in a floodplain is quite another.
Don’t think I’d conflate “going anywhere near the Guadalupe, much less in it” with building lodgings in the flood plain.
How selfish they are to feel this way. That camp has offered extremely positive conditions for young kids for decades. What happened was a tragedy and slowing the re-opening of such a wonderful place will not change anything.
Obviously, it is very hard for someone who has lost a child or children to understand, but life must go on and this camp is so healthy for thousands of children and their families.
“ If they’ve taken proper measures to ensure a non repeat”
And what exactly did they do?
Camp Mystic consists of two adjacent units that operate parallel but independent sessions. The one near the Guadalupe River will remain closed. The one on higher didn’t flood and will be reopening.
Absolutely avoid the flood plain. That was an extremely expensive lesson, costing much more than all the gold in Fort Knox. (Assuming there is gold there. ;-D )
One failure on their part, from all I’ve read, is they didn’t take care to have somebody on duty to monitor the river reports.
Maybe better guardrails that blocks a rising river.
Get back on the horse.
“ If it’s so dangerous, shouldn’t we just outlaw people going anywhere near the Guadalupe, much less in it?”
What they needed was a proper warning system.
National Weather Service saw this coming and the area has that history
You can monitor river reports online.
Why didn’t the parents?
You would have to ask them. There should have been a person doing that.
Texans acknowledge tragedy and move forward. There’s nothing wrong with that.
“ Texans acknowledge tragedy and move forward. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
This is weird. Honor the mother’s wishes.
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