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Camp Mystic Announces 2026 Reopening, Sparks Outcry From Grieving Families
Kerr County, TX – Less than three months after a catastrophic flood claimed 27 lives at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer camp in Kerr County, the organization has announced plans to partially reopen a sister site in 2026. The decision has ignited a firestorm of criticism from families still reeling from the tragedy, particularly the parents of 8-year-old Cile Steward, who remains missing since the July 4th disaster.
The devastating floods on July 4th swept through Camp Mystic Guadalupe River, located on the Guadalupe River, killing 27 campers and counselors in the middle of the night. State leaders and environmental experts had previously told ABC News that some cabins were situated in known flood zones and close to the river, according to officials and FEMA road maps.
Camp Mystic announced on Tuesday that Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, a separate sister site established in 2021, will welcome campers in summer 2026. The original Camp Mystic Guadalupe River location, severely damaged in the floods, will not be able to reopen by then. The partial reopening announcement was sent via email on September 22nd to families enrolled for the 2025 camp season.
In a statement to ABC News, camp officials emphasized that Camp Mystic Cypress Lake is a “separate property that is not adjacent to the Guadalupe River and sustained no damage from the historic flood on July 4.” In their initial reopening announcement, camp leadership stated that “the heart of Camp Mystic has never stopped beating” and that they are “not only rebuilding cabins and trails, but also a place where laughter, friendship and spiritual growth will continue to flourish.” They also committed to building a memorial “dedicated to the lives of the campers and counselors lost on July 4th.”
However, the announcement has been met with anguish and anger from bereaved families. CiCi and Will Steward, parents of missing Cile Steward, penned a scathing letter to camp leadership, stating, “To promote reopening less than three months after the tragedy — while one camper remains missing — is unthinkable. Our families remain trapped in the deepest throes of grief, yet your communications treat our never-ending nightmare as little more than a brief pause before resuming business as usual.”
Cile Steward, 8, is the only camper still unaccounted for, with her parents confirming that recovery teams are “still out there every day, scouring the river” for their child. The Stewards also accused the camp of making its reopening announcement “without prior consultation or consent from the affected families.”
“You are preparing to invite children to swim in the very river that may still hold our daughter’s body when you plan to ‘open your gates,'” the Stewards wrote. They argued that for many families, “Camp Mystic’s heart stopped beating the moment these 27 girls took their last breath.”
Carrie Hanna, mother of 8-year-old Hadley Hanna, who died in the floods, echoed these sentiments. “There’s only one priority for us right now: finding Cile,” Hanna stated to ABC News.
“Camp Mystic should be putting every ounce of energy and resources into helping the search. It’s unfathomable girls would be swimming in that river, while bodies have yet to be recovered.”
Clarke and Katie Baker, parents of Mary Grace Baker, another 8-year-old lost in the floods, also expressed their dismay. They told ABC News they were “never consulted about a memorial, despite the camp suggesting otherwise.”
The Bakers added, “An announcement about a memorial does not resolve our safety concerns or address our raw grief. With one child still missing, it is not just insensitive but unconscionable to invite new campers back to the very place where 27 young lives were lost.”
CiCi and Will Steward are demanding that the camp “halt all discussion of reopening and memorials” and instead prioritize the recovery of their daughter and “fully confront and account for your role in the events and failures that caused the deaths of our daughters.” They concluded their letter by stating, “Anything less dishonors the children who were killed while in your care – at a time when their safety was your primary responsibility. We will continue to advocate for reforms and demand full accountability.”
In response to ABC News, Camp Mystic affirmed it is in the “initial stages of planning a memorial” and “have notified bereaved parents,” welcoming their participation. The camp reiterated its commitment to its “nearly century-long mission and ministry…to provide a Christian camping experience for girls that allows them to grow physically, mentally and spiritually,” stating this decision is “informed by our faith.” Camp officials also confirmed they are “working with engineers and other experts to comply with all elements of the recently passed camp safety legislation.”
Kerr County Public Relations did not immediately respond to requests for comment.