Our property was recently featured in the news following the impact of the floods in Hunt, Texas.

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted people,

My name is Dina Shalab, daughter of Kipp Cottage Owner - Sarah Dickinson Shalab. We are reaching out with heavy hearts in the aftermath of the devastating floods that struck Hunt, Texas, over the 4th of July weekend. Nearly 100 lives were tragically lost—among them, 27 young campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, a cherished all-girls summer camp. Eleven campers remain missing. The scope of this tragedy is beyond comprehension.

We’ve been blessed to own this beautiful property as a family for over 80 years, nestled beside Camp Mystic—a magical place that has touched generations of our family. This camp will always be a part of our family’s story, woven deeply into our memories and hearts.

Over the years, we’ve lovingly maintained a cabin along the riverbank, renting it each summer so others could experience the peace and beauty of this sacred place. Guests often spoke of the joy they felt hearing campers’ laughter echoing through the tall bald cypress trees or waking each morning to the sound of reveille played on a trumpet. Our cabin was never just a house—it was a sanctuary of memory, magic, and community.

This historic flood—the worst ever recorded in Hunt—has brought heartbreaking devastation to our beloved community and left our own property deeply damaged in its wake. Generations-old trees were uprooted. The house has sustained major structural and water damage. While we are immensely grateful that our family is safe, the loss of this special place is deeply painful.

We know that so many others have lost even more—including loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are with every family mourning unimaginable loss. It’s with deep humility and respect for all those impacted that we ask for your support.

We are raising funds to help repair and restore our family’s home and land, to preserve the memories and magic that live within its walls, and to ensure that one day, it can once again welcome visitors who come to experience the beauty and spirit of Hunt, Texas.

Your generous contributions will directly help cover costs including:

• Removing massive debris lodged in the river, including three vehicles buried upstream from the house

• Clearing fallen trees and natural debris scattered across the property

• Mucking out the house and removing silt, mud, and flood-contaminated materials

• Removing flooring and repairing structural damage to the home and foundation by floodwaters

• Fixing broken water pipes and damaged sprinkler systems

• Rebuilding the eroded earth dam and restoring the riverbank to prevent further erosion and preserve the natural landscape

• Rebuilding retaining walls destroyed by flood pressure

• Regrading, leveling, and reseeding the land to help restore the ecosystem and prevent future runoff

No donation is too small. Every contribution helps us take one step closer to rebuilding not just a home, but a piece of our family’s history and a place that has meant so much to so many. If you’re unable to donate, we ask that you please share this campaign with your community and keep all victims of this disaster in your thoughts and prayers.

With love and heartfelt thanks,

Sarah Dickinson Shalab & Family

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Pictures of the July 4th Texas Flood Damage at Kipp Cottage: