Camp Mystic, the Christian summer camp in Texas where 27 campers and counselors died in a catastrophic flood last year, has halted plans to reopen this summer, after months of intensifying pressure and outrage by state leaders and victims’ families.
In a statement on Thursday, the camp said: “No administrative process or summer season should move forward while families continue to grieve, while investigations continue and while so many Texans still carry the pain of last July’s tragedy.”
The decision follows days of intense questioning by Texas lawmakers who are investigating the camp’s response to the devastating 4 July flood that claimed the lives of 25 campers and two teenage counselors. The camp’s owner, Dick Eastland, also died in the flooding.
A spokesperson for the Texas department of state health services confirmed to the Associated Press on Thursday that the camp had withdrawn its application.
In its statement on Thursday, Camp Mystic also said that the decision was “intended to remove any doubt that Camp Mystic has heard the concerns expressed by grieving families, members of the Texas house and senate investigating committees and citizens across our state”, according to ABC News.
The camp said it would “continue to fully cooperate with all ongoing investigations, comply with every lawful requirement, and continue supporting recovery and healing efforts”.
Responding to the announcement, the Texas governor, Greg Abbott, said on Thursday: “Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones and those recovering from last year’s devastating Fourth of July floods.”
“Camp Mystic has withdrawn its application to the department of state health services [DSHS] seeking to open as a camp this year,” he added. “As a result, the camp will remain closed for 2026. The DSHS continues working with the Texas Rangers to investigate Camp Mystic. The results of that investigation will be made public as soon as possible.”
The lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, who had been urging the state to deny the camp’s license to reopen, said on Thursday that he was “thankful” to hear that the camp had withdrawn its application.
“Given the tragic circumstances, this is the correct decision to protect Texas campers and to allow time for all investigations to be completed,” he said.
The tragedy remains the subject of ongoing legal actions.
Earlier this week, members of the family that owns and operates Camp Mystic faced questioning from Texas lawmakers who are investigating their handling of the flooding last year.
Earlier this year, a judge in Texas ordered camp leaders to preserve the damaged cabins and land affected by the flooding while a lawsuit, filed by the family of a young girl who was swept away in the flood and whose body still has not been recovered, moves forward.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
