Camp Mystic to reopen next summer as search for missing girl continues after deadly floods

Camp Mystic, the Christian summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, will reopen next summer even as authorities continue to search for an eight-year-old camper who disappeared in July floods that killed 27 people.

Camp Mystic's owners, the Eastland family, announced regular programming would resume and a memorial would be established for the lives lost. In a message to families, they wrote, 'We are not only rebuilding cabins and trails, but also a place where laughter, friendship and spiritual growth will continue to flourish.'

Families of the victims, who describe themselves as 'Heaven's 27,' criticized the reopening, arguing that recovery and support should take precedence over programming. Eight-year-old Cile Steward's mother, CiCi Steward, condemned the decision, saying, 'The truth is, Camp Mystic failed our daughters.' She added that 'Recovery teams are still out there, scouring the river, risking and sacrificing so much to find her so we can finally lay her to rest. For their efforts, we are eternally grateful. Camp Mystic, however, has only added to our grief. For my family, these months have felt like an eternity. Camp 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's body.'

Blake Bonner, whose daughter Lila died in the floods, said resources should be directed toward recovering the remaining camper and noted that families were not consulted about the memorial. 'Resources should be used to recover the remaining camper,' he said, adding that 'the families of Heaven's 27 were not consulted about the memorial.'

The Eastland family, which has owned Camp Mystic since the 1930s, said they had not heard negative feedback from families and stressed that the memorial would honor those lost. The memorial will 'capture the beauty, kindness and grace they all shared, while focusing on the joy they carried and will always inspire in us all.' They also pledged to implement more safety protocols in response to the 'catastrophic 1,000-year weather event.'

State authorities noted that the camp site was designated as high risk for flooding in 2011, and Texas lawmakers have since passed new laws to safeguard campers like Cile. The rules require camps to build new cabins away from floodplains and move existing ones out of harm's way.

The camp's pledge to reopen next year for its 100th anniversary comes as the outreach around the tragedy continues. The family behind Heaven's 27 set up a GoFundMe page that has raised more than $300,000 to fund memorial efforts and support resources in Cile's name. The camp says the anniversary dates will be announced in October.

Meanwhile, the search for Cile Steward persists, with recovery teams continuing to scour the river and surrounding areas as authorities weigh next steps.