Owners of Camp Mystic were notified this week that their application to reopen this summer may be denied after state regulators found the camp’s emergency plan failed to meet basic health and safety standards.
The notice from the Texas Department of State Health Services came as the camp prepares to welcome girls to a different site on Cypress Lake, not the Guadalupe River location where 25 girls, two counselors and the camp’s owner died in last year’s July 4 flood.
Regulators cited multiple deficiencies: the absence of a floodplain map showing where cabins would be placed, insufficient plans for an emergency preparedness coordinator, inadequate fire and natural disaster evacuation procedures, and a weak emergency warning system.
The state also noted recurring problems with unclear staff responsibilities during emergencies, poor coordination with local authorities, and a lack of a formal process to notify parents if any part of the camp lies within a floodplain.
Camp Mystic has 45 days to revise its emergency plan and resubmit it for review. In a statement, the camp said it is working closely with state health officials to address the concerns and emphasized its commitment to safety and its nearly century-old mission of providing a Christian camping experience for girls.
Some families of the victims have opposed the reopening, arguing the state failed to enforce existing safety requirements before the tragedy. In February, relatives of nine victims sued the state, claiming it neglected its duty to ensure the camp had a viable evacuation plan.
Meanwhile, other parents preparing to send their daughters back this summer say trust must be built on facts, not grief. They warn against letting sorrow harden into conclusions not yet supported by evidence, insisting licensing decisions should follow the law, not public pressure.
State lawmakers serving on investigative committees visited the camp grounds last month as part of their review of the 2025 flooding. Their visit came after a state judge ruled in April that camp operators “potentially violated” Texas Administrative Code by failing to maintain a written evacuation plan or provide documented safety training — a finding the judge said remains subject to debate.
The judge noted that testimony about a missing document is not proof that no plan existed, that staff were untrained, or that decisions made during the unprecedented flood constituted negligence under the law.
Although the Guadalupe River site will not reopen this summer — it was already off the table before the March injunction — the camp’s operators hope to satisfy state requirements and open the Cypress Lake location for the upcoming season.
The outcome will test how Texas balances accountability with due process in the wake of a disaster that killed more than 130 people across the region, and whether a camp with deep roots can rebuild trust through compliance rather than concession.
Why is Camp Mystic seeking to reopen at a different location?
The camp plans to use its Cypress Lake site this summer because the Guadalupe River location, where the fatalities occurred, is not being considered for reopening this year due to ongoing safety concerns and legal restrictions.
What specific changes must Camp Mystic make to its emergency plan to satisfy state regulators?
The camp must add a floodplain map showing cabin locations, establish clear plans for an emergency preparedness coordinator, improve fire and natural disaster evacuation procedures, upgrade its emergency warning system, define staff responsibilities during emergencies, improve coordination with local authorities, and create a formal process to notify parents if any part of the camp lies in a floodplain.
Can the state deny the camp’s license based solely on public pressure or grief from victims’ families?
No. According to legal arguments made in the Houston Chronicle, the state cannot deny a license based on allegations or public sentiment; it must determine whether statutory and regulatory requirements are met, and if not, prove the deficiencies through evidence.
Worth a look
