![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0708-CampMysticFamily-MC-06.jpg\")
Carolyn Lorimer flips through her Camp Mystic scrapbooks on July 8, 2025, in Fort Worth. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\nBefore catastrophic flooding swelled through the grounds of Camp Mystic and Central Texas in early July, it was known as a sacred site for idyllic girlhood.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was the place where Fort Worth resident Carolyn Lorimer became a Tonkawa when she first started going to the camp in 1959 and it would remain a pillar in her life. She\u2019s attended almost every camp reunion since they began in the early \u201980s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At Camp Mystic, members of the Tonkawa or Kiowa \u201ctribes\u201d saw girlhood fun blossom into lifelong friendships. Camp was the place where cypress and pecan trees as tall as buildings scraped the sky, and campers traded the hum of the highway for the roar of Hill Country cicadas. It was the place where metropolitan girls learned devotionals, how to win or lose a sport with grace, and earned Coca-Cola and chocolate on special occasions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pressed in the charms on James Avery bracelets \u2014 a tradition for many campers \u2014 were mementos of scripture, sportsmanship and sisterhood.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There were also the songs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a camp in the Guadalupe River. It is the camp of my dreams.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Where the whippoorwill calls softly and the bright moon beams.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lorimer looks fondly over the memories layered in scrapbooks full of pictures, news clippings from the \u201cMystic Murmurs,\u201d and letters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Camp Mystic has since seen generations of Lorimer\u2019s family. While she and her relatives are grieving the devastation of the lives lost in the waters and recovering from her granddaughters\u2019 rescued from the tragedy, she wants people to remember what Camp Mystic meant to thousands of women and girls over the years and the leaders who made it possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about those children. It\u2019s about the Eastlands. It\u2019s about those counselors who rose to the occasion,\u201d Lorimer said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s about the enduring values of Mystic, the values that made us who we are.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Carolyn Lorimer flips through her Camp Mystic scrapbooks on July 8, 2025, in Fort Worth. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
History and leadership shaping Camp Mystic\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Camp Mystic, named after the morning mists<\/a> that rise from the Guadalupe River, is a private Christian summer camp for girls. It was established in 1926 by University of Texas coach \u201cDoc\u201d Stewart. At the time, Camp Mystic offered a single eight-week session, a tradition that continued until 1942. After World War II, Camp Mystic began offering two eight-week sessions each summer, and in 1983 added a third session that was two weeks long.<\/p>\n The camp strives to provide young girls with a \u201cwholesome Christian atmosphere in which they can develop outstanding personal qualities and self-esteem,\u201d according to the website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Camp alumnae include the daughters of former Texas Govs. Price Daniel, Dan Moody and John Connally, according to a 2011 Texas Monthly article<\/a>. Former President Lyndon B. Johnson\u2019s daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters also attended, according to The Texas Tribune<\/a>. Former first lady Laura Bush was a Camp Mystic counselor.\u00a0<\/p>\n Agnes Stacy and her husband, known as \u201cPop\u201d Stacy, decided to purchase the camp in 1939. Inez and Frank C. Harrison, affectionately called \u201cIney\u201d and \u201cFrank\u201d were brought to Mystic in 1948 by Agnes Stacy and served as directors until retirement in 1987.<\/p>\n Both influenced the lives of countless young women and men \u201cby their example and through their training\u201d and are credited with putting into practice many of the philosophies and traditions still valued by Mystic campers and counselors, according to the Camp Mystic website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n That rings true for Lorimer, who has a small booklet of prayers, scripture and heartfelt messages known as \u201cIney\u2019s Thoughts.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere is this culture that says, \u2018Be ye kind one to another. God is first, my neighbor is second. I am third,\u2019\u201d Lorimer said. \u201cAll of that you carry with you for the rest of your life. In our wedding, I had the prayer of St. Francis and some other scriptures from camp.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Grieving the losses of the floods<\/strong><\/p>\n In 1987, Agnes Stacy\u2019s grandson Dick Eastland and his wife, Tweety, took the reins as co-owners and executive directors for Camp Mystic. Dick Eastland died while trying to save some of the youngest girls from the July 2025 flood waters<\/a>, which rose over 26 feet within 45 minutes.<\/p>\n Eastland had no \u201cmean bone in his body,\u201d and was known for his \u201cbear hugs,\u201d two of the many things Lorimer will remember him by.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cDick was all about caring for others,\u201d Lorimer said. \u201cI\u2019m a better person when I\u2019m around him and Tweety.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The flash floods killed over 100<\/a> people across the region during the Fourth of July weekend, with more than 160 people still believed to be missing, according to the Associated Press<\/a>. Camp Mystic lost 27<\/a> campers and counselors. Kerr County officials said on Thursday that five campers and one counselor were still missing, according to The New York Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cynthie \u201cJane\u201d Ragsdale, who grew up attending Camp Mystic and later served in a leadership role at another all-girls\u2019 summer camp called Heart O\u2019 the Hills<\/a>, also died in the flood.<\/p>\n Power has been restored at Camp Mystic, \u201cfor the primary purpose of communicating with our Mystic family,\u201d according to a July 10 update on the camp website.<\/p>\n \u201cOur Mystic girls will forever shine just like Matthew 5:14-16 because you girls are the light of the world,\u201d the statement said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Camp Mystic was a \u2018spiritual home\u2019 for many<\/strong><\/p>\n Camp Mystic was the place for horseback riding, archery and war canoeing.\u00a0<\/p>\n It was also a \u201cspiritual home,\u201d for many girls who remember deepening their friendships and faith at camp.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just a beautiful place where you felt God all around,\u201d Lorimer said. \u201cHe\u2019s right with you everywhere, even though you\u2019re not aware. But at camp, you looked around and you went, \u2018This is God\u2019s creation, and it is so beautiful, and I feel his presence here.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Today, Lorimer is praying that Camp Mystic will come back so it can continue to be a special place for future generations. She wants them to know \u201cthere are thousands of Mystic alumni of all ages\u201d steered by their faith and cherished songs, who are ready to help.\u00a0<\/p>\n On the banks of the Guadalupe River, where hearts are loyal and true.<\/p>\n Camp Mystic I will pledge my true and faithful love to you.<\/p>\n Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n News decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0708-CampMysticFamily-MC-01-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0708-CampMysticFamily-MC-02-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0708-CampMysticFamily-MC-10.jpg\")
Carolyn Lorimer flips through Camp Mystic scrapbooks on July 8, 2025, in Fort Worth. The pages are filled with photos, awards, drawings, news clippings and more, all from Lorimer\u2019s time as a camper. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0708-CampMysticFamily-MC-05.jpg\")
Carolyn Lorimer shares memories of Camp Mystic from her time as a camper on July 8, 2025, in Fort Worth. Alumni created scrapbooks to commemorate their time together. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
![\"Creative](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750614464_36_cc-by-nd-4.0.png\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n