Grieving parents call on Camp Mystic to abandon plans to reopen

Twenty-five campers, two counselors and Camp Mystic's co-owner died in the July 4 Hill Country flood.

Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer

The parents of a camper who vanished in the July 4 flood and is still missing are calling on Camp Mystic to abandon plans for a partial reopening next summer.

CiCi and Will Steward of Austin — the parents of 8-year-old Cile Steward — sent a blistering letter to leaders of the Christian girls camp in the Hill Country on Wednesday night, criticizing their actions since the disaster and their plans to resume operations next summer.

"We call on Camp Mystic to halt all discussion of reopening and memorials," the Stewards 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.

"Anything less dishonors the children who were killed while in your care — at a time when their safety was your primary responsibility."

The couple said they were writing "on behalf of ourselves and other families of the Heaven's 27," a reference to the 25 campers and two counselors who died when a flood invaded the camp's grounds in the early morning hours of July 4. Kerr County authorities listed Cile Steward among those confirmed to have died, although her remains have not been recovered.

The Guadalupe River rose to a crest of 37.52 feet — an all-time high — after a torrential storm that day. In all, the flood killed 119 people in Kerr County.

Camp Mystic's leadership sent parents an email Monday afternoon informing them of its plan for a partial reopening. In a statement Thursday, camp officials said there is "strong interest" among families in sending girls back to the site next summer.

"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 statement said.

"Search operations are ongoing at Camp Mystic. We continue to pray that Cile will be found and for the peace and comfort of the families of all the campers and counselors."

'Intensified our grief'

The Stewards said those plans have caused anguish for the 27 families whose daughters died in the flood.

"To promote reopening less than three months after the tragedy — while one camper remains missing — is unthinkable," the Stewards wrote. "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.

"Worse still, 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.' Had you paused to reflect — or simply consulted with any one of our families — you might have spared grieving families the additional anguish your decisions now cause. Instead, your communications have only intensified our grief."

They called on Camp Mystic's leadership to focus on the continuing search for their daughter.

"Recovery teams are still out there every day, scouring the river — your backyard — risking their own safety to bring her home to us," they wrote. "Yet, instead of recognizing or highlighting that effort, you have not once mentioned her name or the fact that she is still missing.

"Meanwhile, in one of Monday’s emails, you declared: 'The heart of Camp Mystic has never stopped beating.' Have you considered that, for many of us, Camp Mystic’s heart stopped beating the moment these 27 girls took their last breath?"

'Betrayed'

The privately run Christian resort, founded in 1926, has hosted generations of girls from prominent Texas families. The camp is located on the south fork of the Guadalupe River, a few miles southwest of the village of Hunt and 18 miles west of Kerrville.

For decades, it has been owned and operated by members of the Eastland family. Richard G. "Dick" Eastland, 70, co-owner and executive director of the camp, died in the July 4 flood along with the 25 girls and two counselors. He perished trying to rescue campers and was found dead in his vehicle, along with three girls.

CiCi and Will Steward were among grieving parents who testified in Austin last month before the state Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding. They testified in support of legislation to stiffen safety requirement for youth camps.

Through tears, CiCi Steward told the committee that her daughter was a member of the third generation of her family to attend Camp Mystic. She said she sent Cile there "under the assurance she would be safe.

"That assurance was betrayed," Steward said.

"Texas summer camps must be properly equipped, trained and held accountable so that future generations of children can experience the joy of camp without being placed in preventable danger," she said.