Texas Camp Tragedy Claims Lives, Spurs Outpouring of Support

Camp Mystic reels from devastating flood, community rallies to aid recovery.

The tragic loss of 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic in the recent Texas Hill Country flood has amplified the camp’s renown, though at a heartbreaking cost. As the flood’s death toll surpasses 100, with 160 still missing as of Tuesday, the focus remains on the “Mystic Girls.”

Camp’s History and the Flood Damage

For almost a century, Camp Mystic has been a popular summer destination for Texan daughters, offering multiple sessions. Now, the camp, poised to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, is largely destroyed. Instead of laughter and song, chainsaws and heavy equipment fill the air as state agencies and volunteers search through debris, seeking any sign of the missing.

Five days post-flood, efforts have shifted to recovery. Richard “Dick” Eastland, a fourth-generation owner, perished while trying to save five girls.

Claudia Sullivan, Camp Mystic memoir author, expressed the collective grief: “It tugs at the heart of anyone in the world that see the pictures of those little faces… To know that they were there, having the time of their life, that they were innocent, and then to be taken away in such a tragic event – it takes you to your knees.”

Camp’s Reputation and Prominent Alumnae

Many alumni are too distraught to comment on the camp’s reputation. Texas Monthly described it in 2011 as “a near-flawless training ground for archetypal Texas women.” The camp has served generations of women from prominent Texas families. This includes former First Lady Laura Bush, who was a counselor, as well as daughters and granddaughters of Lyndon Johnson, former Secretary of State James Baker, and Texas governors Price Daniel, Dan Moody, and John Connally.

Sullivan clarifies that Camp Mystic, while holding Christian values, is not a church camp: “That evokes the idea of church camp but that’s not the case… It’s a private camp for girls that holds Christian values. When I was there we spent a lot of time talking about being kind to one another and having compassion, and there were people from other denominations and faiths.”

Community Support and Recovery Efforts

The community’s response has been overwhelming. A memorial service in San Antonio honored the lost “Mystic girls,” with attendees dressed in camp colors, united in song and prayer.

Access to Camp Mystic was severely restricted Tuesday, with traffic backed up for miles. During peak season, the camp hosts 750 girls, more than half the population of Hunt, Texas.

John Sheffield, owner of Ole Ingram Grocery, emphasized community unity: “This is Americans taking care of Americans. There’s been such a tremendous outpouring of support and compassion.”

Search crews continue combing through debris. Claud Johnson, Ingram’s mayor, operates a digger, while an EMS van signals the discovery of another body. A recent incident involving a drone impacting a rescue helicopter highlights the dangers.

Three baristas from San Antonio’s Aftersome Coffee stand are serving recovery workers, showing support for those affected. The American Camp Association reports that over 12,000 camps operate in the U.S., serving more than 11 million children and adults (ACA 2023).

Allyson Bebleu noted, “It’s not just for the wealthiest families, people of all types go to camp… Everyone is putting themselves in the shoes of the Camp Mystic girls. It’s tragic.”

Controversy and Political Involvement

Camp Mystic faced controversy after a video posted by Sade Perkins, formerly of Houston’s Food Insecurity Board, who described it as a “whites only” camp. Houston Mayor John Whitmire removed Perkins from her position due to these comments.

Richard Vela, whose daughter was evacuated from a nearby camp, condemned Perkins’s remarks: “were not right. You don’t talk about people like that. There’s a lot of death going on and they still haven’t found everybody.”

Bruce Jerome, assisting flood survivors, mourned the loss of Jane Ragsdale, Heart O’ the Hills Camp director.

State Representative Josey Garcia is collaborating with neighbors to aid recovery efforts: “and collaborate with our neighbors here to recover those that are missing and help Kerr county clean up… when it comes to lives being devastated its our duty to step.”

Garcia also dismissed negative portrayals of Camp Mystic: “I’ve been hearing a lot of the rhetoric that’s been going around. This is not the time for those types of distinctions. I don’t care who was at the camp. All I know is that there are parents and families that are missing their loved ones. Whether it’s rich Caucasian children or any other children, we’d still be there.”