How the Flood Fractured the Tightknit Camp Mystic Community
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Camp Mystic, an all-girls retreat on the Guadalupe River in Texas, holds deep emotional significance for many women who spent their summers there, including Carla Smyrl, who has been connected to the camp for decades.
- On July 4, a devastating flood caused by heavy rains led to the deaths of 27 campers and counselors, as well as the camp’s longtime executive director, profoundly impacting the Mystic community.
- The tragedy united thousands of alumnae, sparking immediate communication through text chains, prayer services, and sharing of memories on social media platforms.
- Alumnae gatherings, including one at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, provided spaces for mourning and support, highlighting the strong, lifelong bonds formed at Camp Mystic.
