In Texas, the grief of families who lost loved ones in the deadly summer floods is still raw.
Yet Camp Mystic, the Christian summer camp at the heart of the tragedy, has announced plans to reopen next year — even though the body of one young camper has still not been found.
A Family Still Searching
Eight-year-old Cile Steward remains missing months after the July disaster that claimed 27 lives.
For her parents, every day feels like an unbearable wait.
Cile’s mother, CiCi Steward, condemned the camp’s decision to resume operations, saying it felt like a cruel disregard for the families still mourning.
“The truth is, Camp Mystic failed our daughters,” she said in a statement.
“Recovery teams are still out there scouring the river, risking so much to find her. For us, these months have felt like an eternity.
For the camp, it seems like nothing more than a brief pause before business as usual.”
Families Push Back
Camp Mystic announced its return in an email, highlighting not just the rebuilding of cabins and trails but also the promise of “laughter, friendship and spiritual growth.”
The camp also pledged to create a memorial for those who died, a group now referred to by families as “Heaven’s 27.”
But for parents like Blake Bonner, who lost his daughter Lila, the reopening feels premature.
He argued that resources should go toward recovering Cile before planning tributes.
Families say they were not consulted about the memorial, adding to their frustration.
Camp Defends Its Decision
The Eastland family, who has owned and run the camp since the 1930s, defended the move, insisting they have not faced backlash directly from families.
They described the proposed memorial as a space that would reflect “the beauty, kindness and grace” of those who were lost.
Camp leaders also promised stricter safety protocols in the wake of what experts called a catastrophic “1,000-year weather event.”
Still, critics note the camp has long been flagged as vulnerable. As far back as 2011, the grounds were designated a high-risk flood zone.
New Laws for Safer Summers
In response to the tragedy, Texas lawmakers have passed new safety regulations for camps across the state.
Future cabins must be built outside floodplains, and existing structures must be moved away from riverbanks.
At the time of the flood, Camp Mystic’s youngest campers were housed in cabins just steps from the water that ultimately overflowed.
Honoring Cile’s Memory
The Steward family has turned their grief into action. They launched a GoFundMe page to honor their daughter’s memory through community support and memorial donations.
The fundraiser has already raised more than $300,000.
Their tribute described Cile as “a courageous, funny, plucky force of nature,” equally at ease in sparkling dress-up shoes or muddy fishing waders.
“Nobody has ever rocked an animal print like our beloved Cile Bug and no one ever will,” the family wrote.
Looking Toward 100 Years
Camp Mystic plans to reopen in time for its 100th anniversary next summer, with official dates expected in October.
The camp has survived floods before, but never one as devastating as this year’s.
For many grieving families, the question remains: is it too soon to celebrate a centennial when so many lives are still shattered?