Camp Mystic, the site of the devastating Texas flood that took 27 lives, will reopen next summer despite one camper still missing.
As the summer camp begins its usual activities, the family of eight-year-old Cile Steward continues to hope for the chance to finally lay their daughter to rest.
Cile’s mother, CiCi Steward ridiculed the decision in a statement obtained by the New York Times.
She said: ‘The truth is, Camp Mystic failed our daughters.’
‘Recovery teams are still out there, scouring the river, risking and sacrificing so much to find her so we can finally lay her to rest.
‘For their efforts, we are eternally grateful. Camp Mystic, however, has only added to our grief.
‘For my family, these months have felt like an eternity. For the camp, it seems like nothing more than a brief pause before business as usual.
‘Camp Mystic is proceeding with its reopening, even though it means allowing girls to swim in the same river that might still hold my daughter’s body.’
Camp Mystic will reopen despite one of the flood victims still missing
Cile Steward was one of 27 girls swept away by the camp’s floods on July 4
The Christian summer camp reportedly sent an email to families, announcing the return of their summer program.
They expressed: ‘We are not just rebuilding cabins and trails, but also creating a space where laughter, friendship, and spiritual growth can thrive.’
The message also included plans to create a memorial in honor of the lives lost in the July floods.
Families of the young campers and counselors, who call themselves ‘Heaven’s 27’ were angered by the announcement.
Blake Bonner, who lost his daughter Lila in the flood, believes resources should instead focus on recovering the missing camper, highlighting that families of ‘Heaven’s 27’ weren’t consulted about the memorial.
Family’s of the 27 victims have condemned the camp’s decision to reopen their gates
However, the Eastland family, who has owned and operated the camp since the 1930s said they hadn’t received any negativity from the families.
The memorial will ‘capture the beauty, kindness and grace they all shared, while focusing on the joy they carried and will always inspire in us all.’
They promised to implement more safety protocols in response to the ‘catastrophic 1,000-year weather event.’
The camp was designated at a high risk zone for flooding in 2011.
Texas passed new laws to ensure the safety of campers like Cile going forward.
Regulations mandate camps to construct new cabins away from flood-prone areas and relocate current ones to safer locations. Camp Mystic’s youngest campers were housed in cabins close to the river that overflowed.
Cile’s mother, CiCi Steward condemned the camp for reopening their gates with so many families still heartbroken
Camp Mystic promised to erect a memorial in honor of the 27 lives that were lost that day
Families of the lost girls persist in questioning the camp’s safety protocols and what truly occurred the night their daughters went missing.
The Steward family started a GoFundMe page to raise money that will be used ‘to honor her life through support resources and memorial donations in Cile’s name.’
The family wrote a tribute to their lost daughter:
‘Cile Steward was a courageous, funny, plucky force of nature. Equally at home in a pair of sparkly dress-up heels or a pair of fishing waders, this creative girl was full of adventure, brimming with joy and had absolutely killer style – nobody has ever rocked an animal print like our beloved Cile Bug and no one ever will.
‘Her bright light will be deeply missed by all who knew her and grieved by a tremendous network of family and friends, as well as many who have been moved by the devastating flooding in the Texas Hill Country.’
The page has already raised more than $300,000
The camp intends to reopen in time for their 100th anniversary next year, announcing dates in October. In their century long history, the camp has endured several flash flooding events, but none as deadly as the one this summer.
Daily Mail reached out to Camp Mystic and the Friends of the Steward and Williams Families.
