HOUSTON, TX — In a devastating turn of events over the holiday weekend, Blake McCrory, a bright and beloved 8-year-old boy from Houston, tragically lost his life in sudden flash flooding at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas. The tragedy unfolded on the night of July 4, 2025, leaving a tight-knit family and community reeling with grief.
Blake, who had eagerly returned to Camp Mystic—a treasured family tradition stretching back generations—was swept away when a powerful wall of water surged through the campgrounds along the Guadalupe River. Authorities said the water level rose more than 20 feet in just 90 minutes, overwhelming cabins and leaving campers scrambling for safety.
Despite rapid emergency efforts that included local responders, state game wardens, and helicopter rescue teams, Blake was found downstream during recovery operations. His death, confirmed by the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, has sent shockwaves through both the Houston and summer camp communities.
A Child Full of Light
Blake was remembered by his family as a loving, curious boy who brought joy to every room he entered. “He had this way of making you feel seen, even as a child,” said a close family friend. “Blake was sunshine in sneakers.”
He was a third grader who loved reading nature books, catching frogs, and playing soccer in his Bellaire neighborhood park. A regular camper, he cherished swimming in the river and late-night stories by the fire with his cousins.
His mother described him as “gentle and endlessly kind,” and said that Camp Mystic had always been a magical place for him—a place that now holds unbearable loss.
A Family’s Double Loss
This tragedy compounds an earlier heartbreak: just two months before the flood, Blake’s father, Blake McCrory Sr., died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Now, the family must endure an unfathomable second blow—burying both a father and son within weeks of each other.
“This family has been hit by a storm no one could prepare for,” said family pastor Rev. Mark Halvorsen. “And yet, in their sorrow, they remain focused on love. That’s what Blake taught them. That’s what he gave all of us.”
An Urgent Wake-Up Call
Camp Mystic released a statement expressing deep sorrow and promising an immediate review of emergency procedures. Plans are already underway for a new early-warning flood system and enhanced staff training, to be named in Blake’s memory. “We will never forget him,” said the camp’s director. “We owe it to Blake—and every camper—to do better.”
Honoring a Life That Touched Many
A public memorial service for Blake will be held Saturday, July 12, at Memorial Drive Baptist Church. The McCrory family is encouraging donations to a newly created scholarship fund for underprivileged children to attend summer camps—so that Blake’s love for the outdoors can live on in others.
Across Houston, tributes have appeared: handmade signs, chalk drawings on playgrounds, and flickering candles in neighborhoods where Blake once played. His classmates will soon return to school to find a bench with his name, placed near his favorite climbing tree.
Gone Too Soon, But Never Forgotten
Blake McCrory’s time on this earth was heartbreakingly short—but the light he shared was immeasurable. His laughter still echoes in the places he loved. His spirit lives on in the hearts he touched. And through tears, his community clings to the hope that love, like a river, endures—even after the flood