Heart O’ the Hills announces new site and leadership

Heart O’ the Hills for Girls has announced a new location and ownership after the loss of longtime director Jane Ragsdale, who died during the Fourth of July flooding on the Guadalupe River.  The camp suffered extensive damage from the floodwaters but was between sessions at the time, and no children were present.

Ragsdale, 68, first attended as a camper in the 1970’s before later serving as a counselor, co-owner, and eventually director.  “She was the heart of the Heart,” camp officials said in a statement at the time of her death.  “She was our guiding light, our example, and our safe place.  She had the rare gift of making every person feel seen, loved, and important.”

New directors Elizabeth and John Hay are overseeing the transition to a new site located at 685 FM 1340.  The property features over 70 acres of Hill Country views and 1,800 feet of riverfront.  John Hay expressed the family’s commitment to maintaining the camp’s core traditions while embracing the opportunity to create new ones.  “By bringing as many of those traditions as we can, knowing full well as camp is, we will make new traditions along the way, and that was really meaningful for us,” he said.

The project involves coordinating multiple construction elements simultaneously and safety is a paramount concern in the new development, according to the new owners.  Cabin sites and the dining hall will be strategically placed above the floodplain.  “Safety, as we’ve laid it across the site, has really been a core focus for us,” Elizabeth Hay said.

Registration for summer 2026 will open soon.  For more information, visit www.hohcamp.com.