Camp Mystic, the Texas summer camp where 25 girls and two teenage counsellors died in catastrophic flooding on July 4, has announced enhanced safety measures ahead of a partial reopening next summer. In a letter to parents, the Eastland family, who own the camp, said they plan to exceed new state safety laws passed after the disaster.
The upgrades include four flood warning river monitors for early detection of high water, two-way radios in every cabin with national weather alerts, and high-capacity generators for critical areas such as the office and dining hall. The owners expressed their commitment to safety, stating it is their goal to exceed the requirements of the new legislation.
The tragedy, which claimed the lives of 27 individuals known as 'Heaven’s 27', also killed Dick Eastland, a family member of the owners. The camp will reopen Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, a separate property unaffected by the floods, with six 10-day sessions from May 30 to August 9, 2026. Tours will be offered in April for enrolled campers and their families.
However, the reopening has drawn criticism from some victims' families, who say they were not consulted. CiCi and Will Steward, whose eight-year-old daughter Cile died and remains missing, described the plan as 'unthinkable'. Several families have also filed lawsuits against Camp Mystic, alleging negligence in protecting campers from the floodwaters.
