When torrential rains swept across central Texas in late July, few could have predicted the devastation that would follow. Rivers that had been calm and inviting only hours earlier turned into raging torrents, overflowing their banks and sweeping away everything in their path. Communities along the Guadalupe River were hit especially hard, and among the places most deeply affected was Camp Mystic, a beloved summer retreat where children from across the state gathered for recreation, friendship, and adventure.
What should have been a season of joy quickly descended into tragedy. Floodwaters engulfed cabins, washed away equipment, and put dozens of campers and staff in mortal danger. In the days that followed, families held their breath as search-and-rescue teams combed the riverbanks, hoping against hope that loved ones would be found alive.
By the end of July, officials confirmed that all 27 missing individuals from Camp Mystic had been located. Sadly, not all survived. The last to be found was a young girl whose discovery brought an end to the official search effort but opened a new wave of grief, questions, and demands for accountability.
A Beloved Camp Transformed by Tragedy
For decades, Camp Mystic has been a fixture of Texas summers. Nestled along the Guadalupe River, the camp prided itself on teaching young people independence, teamwork, and an appreciation for nature. Each year, hundreds of families entrusted the camp with their children, eager for them to build memories around canoeing, campfires, hiking, and late-night storytelling under the stars.
This year, however, nature turned against them. Heavy rainfall over several days overwhelmed the region’s waterways, sending walls of water surging through valleys and low-lying areas. For Camp Mystic, the timing could not have been worse: hundreds of children were in residence, supervised by staff but vulnerable to the sudden rise in water levels.
Witnesses described how quickly the situation escalated. A peaceful evening by the river turned into chaos as rain intensified and currents grew stronger. Within hours, water levels rose to dangerous heights, threatening cabins and recreational areas. Despite the camp’s emergency protocols, the sheer force of the flood left little time for safe evacuation.