Camp Mystic, the Texas Christian summer camp where 27 girls and counselors died in a catastrophic flood in July 2025, may not be allowed to reopen this summer after state officials found it has not met health and safety requirements. The Texas Department of State Health Services has demanded several changes, including improvements to emergency warning systems, the provision of a floodplain map showing cabin locations, and a revised fire evacuation plan.
The camp has 45 days to rectify these issues to obtain its operating license. A spokesperson confirmed the camp still intends to open on 30 May, using a separate site from the one hit by the deadly flooding on 4 July 2025. That day, 25 girls, two counselors, and the camp's owner were killed after heavy rainfall caused catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River.
Family members of victims have criticised the decision to reopen, questioning whether the camp and state authorities did enough to prevent the tragedy. In February, families of nine victims sued the state, alleging it failed to demand an adequate evacuation plan. Earlier in April, the camp's medical officer testified she had not reported deaths to the state health agency within the required 24 hours.
During a hearing, camp director Edward Eastland acknowledged that earlier action could have saved lives but maintained that officials could not have anticipated the storm's scale. His father, owner Richard Eastland, was among those killed. The camp has operated for nearly a century and aims to continue its Christian mission for girls.
