All articles tagged with #camp mystic
After deadly floods devastated Camp Mystic and spawned lawsuits and a state investigation, the Eastland family said they will not pursue a license or reopen for 2026, leaving the century-old Kerr County camp’s future uncertain as families, alumni and lawmakers debate accountability and the community’s economic impact.
Camp Mystic has withdrawn its application for a summer 2026 camp license, according to the camp, which confirmed the decision on Thursday.
Camp Mystic in Kerr County has withdrawn its license renewal and will not reopen for campers this summer after last year’s July 4 flood that killed 25 campers and two counselors. The decision follows a grueling Texas Legislature hearing, and comes amid ongoing investigations, lawsuits, and state safety reforms that require stronger emergency plans and evacuation measures. Regulators found deficiencies in the camp’s emergency plan, and the Texas Department of State Health Services and Rangers are examining care of children, while families demand accountability. Gov. Abbott expressed condolences as the camp, with a century-long history, pauses operations this year.
Camp Mystic, a Texas private Christian girls’ camp where 28 people died in July floods, will not reopen for the 2026 season after withdrawing its license renewal; state officials say the license may not be renewed without major revisions to the emergency plan, and an internal investigation is underway alongside a Texas Ranger probe. Families of victims criticize the decision, while attorneys say accountability and stronger safeguards for campers will continue to be pursued in court.
Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas withdrew its license application and will not reopen this summer after a fatal flood last July that killed 27 campers and counselors. Families of victims welcomed the decision as investigations continue, with state lawmakers and Gov. Abbott noting closures are part of ongoing probes and lawsuits alleging safety failures.
Camp Mystic has withdrawn its 2026 camp license application and will not reopen this summer, saying the decision is out of respect for grieving families after last year’s floods that killed more than 100 people, including 27 campers. The license renewal faced scrutiny by the Texas Department of State Health Services amid backlash to proposed reopening, and lawmakers criticized the camp during hearings. The owners extended condolences to affected families while reaffirming their care for campers.
Camp Mystic in Texas has withdrawn its plan to reopen this summer amid ongoing criminal and civil investigations into the deadly July 4, 2025 floods that killed 27 campers and staff, plus a wrongful-death lawsuit. State leaders urged regulators to deny approval until investigations and corrective actions are complete, and a Texas judge has ordered many damaged buildings to remain untouched during litigation.
At a state House and Senate flood hearing, Camp Mystic director Edward Eastland apologized to families whose children died in last year’s flood, saying they tried their hardest and regretting not communicating sooner. Lawmakers heard harrowing accounts from grieving parents, assessed the camp’s preparedness and evacuation plans, and debated license renewal with the Texas Department of State Health Services, with some suggesting shutdown if deficiencies aren’t fixed. The testimony underscored the trauma for survivors and the political pressure surrounding Camp Mystic’s future.
Texas lawmakers heard from investigator Casey Garrett that Camp Mystic lacked adequate emergency training, evacuation plans, and safety equipment, contributing to the deaths during last summer's Guadalupe River flood; the testimony detailed chaotic evacuations and leadership failures by camp operator Dick Eastland, prompting calls for stricter safety rules and possible denial of the camp's operating license amid ongoing lawsuits and state investigations.
Texas health officials say Camp Mystic must address safety gaps—such as an emergency warning system, a floodplain map, and a fire evacuation plan—within 45 days to renew its operating license after July 2025 floods that killed campers, counselors, and the camp owner; the camp still plans to reopen May 30 at a separate site, while families of victims and lawsuits have questioned the decision and whether authorities did enough to enforce evacuation and safety requirements.
Texas health officials say Camp Mystic must overhaul its emergency and safety plans before reopening at the Cypress Lake site, addressing deficiencies such as floodplain mapping, an emergency coordinator, evacuation and natural-disaster plans, an emergency warning system, clear staff responsibilities, and better coordination with local authorities and parents; the camp has 45 days to resubmit corrected plans.
The Camp Mystic medical officer testified she did not officially report deaths from the July flood to Texas health regulators within the required 24 hours, even as the camp applies to reopen amid a lawsuit over missing camper Cecilia “Cile” Steward. The hearing also highlighted evacuation challenges, a lack of a written flood plan, and questions about preparedness as the camp seeks to move forward with its reopening.
A Texas judge heard emotional testimony about Camp Mystic’s flood response during deadly July floods that killed at least 116 people, including 28 campers and staff, with lawsuits alleging negligence and questions about preparedness. Directors described limited means to contact campers and missed warnings, amid questions about battery-powered alerts and a policy restricting devices. The Steward family’s suit is one of several, and the Texas Rangers are reviewing hundreds of complaints; a ruling on a temporary injunction to cordon flooded areas is expected as Camp Mystic plans to reopen in May.
At a Texas court hearing, Camp Mystic director Edward Eastland testified he didn’t see official flood warnings the night of July 2–3, staff hadn’t held danger briefings, and evacuation came only after waters surged, contributing to the deaths of 27 campers and counselors at the camp; the broader Guadalupe River floods killed at least 136 people, and families are pursuing lawsuits as regulators review the camp’s license ahead of a planned reopening.
In a Texas courtroom, Camp Mystic director Edward Eastland cried as he recounted his attempts to evacuate 27 campers during last year’s historic flood that killed 27 people at the camp. Cecilia 'Cile' Steward’s family is suing to prevent reopening as state investigations and a license decision proceed. Eastland said he did not see official warnings, lacked a detailed evacuation plan, and cannot recall whether Cecilia was with him, insisting he did all he could. The case raises questions about safety, warnings, and evidence preservation as the camp seeks to reopen amid ongoing scrutiny.