“The River Took Everything”: Flash Flood Destroys Texas Summer Camp, 51 Dead
Something about the rain that night felt different. Heavier. Relentless. But no one could have foreseen what was coming.
At 4 a.m., as most of the Texas Hill Country lay sleeping, a violent surge of water tore through the Guadalupe River Valley, swallowing roads, cabins, and lives in seconds.
In its path stood Camp Mystic, a cherished Christian summer camp where laughter had echoed just hours earlier. By sunrise, it was a scene of devastation.
What began as a routine summer night ended in disaster. Fifty-one lives were lost, many of them children, and dozens more remain unaccounted for.
Among the dead: five young girls—Renee Smajstrla, Sarah Marsh, Eloise Peck, Janie Hunt, and Lila Bonner, all between eight and nine years old. They had come to Camp Mystic to make memories. They never left.
The tragedy struck with brutal speed. A flood alert was issued just before dawn, but it arrived too late. Waters surged across the CE-060 highway and into campgrounds, sweeping away buildings, campers, and staff. Many children were still asleep in their bunks.
Dick Eastland, the camp’s longtime director, died while trying to guide campers to safety. Jane Ragsdale, who ran nearby Heart O’ The Hills Camp, was also among the victims.
Photos from the site show what the water left behind: Mud-caked clothes tangled in branches. Pink and purple mattresses wedged against trees. Wooden cabins split open like matchboxes. Backpacks and shoes scattered hundreds of feet from their owners. The land looked as though a war had passed through overnight.
Thirteen-year-old Elinor Lester, who was airlifted to safety, recalled the chaos:
“It was pitch black. I couldn’t see anything except water. The camp was just… gone.”
Local authorities confirmed that 27 girls were swept away as the cabins gave way. Some were rescued by emergency crews, others floated downstream for miles. The full toll is still unknown.
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For the families, every hour is agony.
Ashley Flack, whose daughter Annie survived, described the moment she learned her child was safe:
“We were lucky—but others are still waiting. This isn’t over. Not even close.”
Families have begun sharing memories of the children lost.
Renee Smajstrla’s uncle posted a photo of her beaming on her last camp day:
“She was full of joy. That place made her feel free. She died living her best life.”
Sarah Marsh’s grandmother, Debbie Ford Marsh, wrote simply:
“Our sweet Sarah is gone. The world is dimmer without her light.”
Lila Bonner’s family spoke of “unbearable sorrow,” while Eloise Peck’s mother, Missy, remembered a daughter who loved animals, spaghetti, and making everyone feel welcome.
Both Eloise and Lila had just finished second grade at Bradfield Elementary, their futures cut painfully short.
Across the state, the destruction is widespread. Flash flood deaths have been reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, and Tom Green counties. So far, 858 people have been rescued, with dozens injured.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly announced that rescue operations are transitioning into recovery efforts. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has expanded the state’s disaster declaration to cover 21 counties, mobilizing over 1,000 personnel from the National Guard and Coast Guard, along with helicopters and aircraft.
Former President Donald Trump responded via Truth Social:
“Melania and I are heartbroken. We’re praying for every family affected. God bless Texas.”
With more rain forecast from San Antonio to Waco, fears of renewed flooding complicate ongoing search efforts.
A Summer Cut Short, A Lesson Etched in Grief
The flood that erased Camp Mystic has left behind more than shattered buildings—it has left broken hearts, unanswered questions, and a profound reckoning. Could this have been prevented? Were the risks overlooked? Families want accountability. Communities demand answers.
But for now, the grief is louder than the blame.
This was not just a weather event—it was a human tragedy. Children full of promise, caught in nature’s fury. As the water recedes, the mourning begins.
And for those who knew them, the river didn’t just take a camp.
It took everything.