Texas Flood Disaster Leaves 25 Girls Missing at Historic Camp Mystic

Emergency crews in Texas are working tirelessly to find at least 25 girls who vanished after sudden, catastrophic flooding tore through Camp Mystic, a nearly 100-year-old summer camp in the Texas Hill Country.

The camp, which sits along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, has long been a cherished destination for generations of families seeking adventure and community in the outdoors. But this week, the familiar landscape became unrecognizable as torrential rains sent river levels surging by 26 feet in just hours.

Around 750 children were attending the Christian summer camp when the flooding began early Friday morning. The campgrounds, typically filled with laughter and songs, were quickly overwhelmed by powerful currents that swept away cabins, equipment, and vehicles.

On Saturday afternoon, officials confirmed that 37 people had died in the wider area due to the severe flooding. Search and rescue teams have been using helicopters, boats, and drones in an urgent effort to locate survivors and reunite missing children with their families.

Camp Mystic has been a fixture in the region since 1926 and is now owned by Dick and Tweety Eastland, who have operated the camp since 1974. Their family has been part of the camp’s story since the 1930s, guiding generations of campers through activities like horseback riding, rowing, and tennis.

“This place has meant so much to so many,” one local volunteer said. “To see it devastated like this is heartbreaking.”

Authorities had issued warnings that heavy rainfall was possible, but as Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick explained, forecasters could not predict exactly where the storm would strike. “Everything was done to give them a heads up,” Patrick said. “As it got dark last night and into the early morning hours, that’s when the storm started to zero in.”

In the aftermath, families have been left anxiously waiting for updates. Roads into the camp remain flooded or impassable in some spots, and emergency workers are racing against time to reach isolated areas before conditions worsen again. Flash flood warnings continue in parts of San Antonio and surrounding counties as more rain threatens to hamper rescue efforts.

The Camp Mystic website describes the camp as a place of faith, friendship, and personal growth. For many families, it has been an important tradition spanning multiple generations. Now, the community is rallying together to support search teams and offer comfort to those still waiting to hear if their loved ones have been found safe.

As helicopters circle overhead and rescue boats cut through debris-laden water, the hope remains that the missing girls will be located soon and that this historic camp will someday welcome children back to safer shores.