Texas camp where 25 girls died in 2025 flood may not be allowed to reopen

Lead

Camp Mystic, the all-girls Christian summer camp in the Texas Hill Country where 27 campers 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 camp, which has faced intense scrutiny from lawmakers and grieving families, announced on Thursday that it has halted plans to reopen this summer, withdrawing its license application amid ongoing investigations and legal proceedings.

The Texas Department of State Health Services sent a letter to Camp Mystic detailing deficiencies that must be corrected before it can obtain a license to operate. According to the letter, the camp has an insufficient emergency warning system, lacks a floodplain map showing the locations of camper cabins, and has a flawed fire evacuation plan. The camp was given 45 days to rectify these issues, but its decision to withdraw the application puts any reopening on hold indefinitely.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from The Guardian, which provided the primary coverage of this story, have traced the camp's trajectory from initially planning to reopen to ultimately pausing those plans. One report detailed the state's health and safety findings and the camp's initial intention to open on 30 May at a separate site. Another focused on testimony from the camp's medical officer, Mary Liz Eastland, who admitted she had not officially reported the deaths to the state health agency as required by Texas administrative code. A third report announced the camp's decision to halt reopening plans, following months of outrage from political leaders and victims' families. A fourth report covered a tearful apology from director Edward Eastland at a legislative hearing, where investigators described the late camp director as having no solid evacuation plan.

Across these reports, the core facts remain consistent: 25 girls, two counselors, and camp owner Richard Eastland died when the Guadalupe River flooded the campsite on 4 July 2025. The camp's safety protocols, evacuation procedures, and reporting practices have been widely criticized. The later reporting confirms that as of early April, the medical officer had still not submitted the required death reports, and by late April, the camp had withdrawn its application to reopen.

Key Claims

• 27 deaths in July 2025 flood: All reports agree that 25 campers, two counselors, and camp owner Richard Eastland died in the flood caused by heavy rainfall.
• State licensing issues: Texas officials cited insufficient emergency warning systems, lack of a floodplain map, and flawed fire evacuation plans, as reported by The Guardian.
• Medical officer's failure to report deaths: Mary Liz Eastland, the camp's medical officer and a family member, testified she did not report deaths to the state health agency within 24 hours as required, according to court testimony.
• Camp's reopening plans: The camp initially planned to reopen on 30 May at a separate site, but later withdrew its license application and halted reopening plans, as reported by The Guardian.
• Lack of evacuation plan: Investigators and lawmakers stated the camp lacked a solid evacuation plan, as reported by The Guardian.
• Families' criticism and lawsuits: Families of victims have criticized the decision to reopen and several have filed lawsuits against the state and the camp.

Perspectives

The families of the victims have expressed deep grief and anger. Some have criticized the camp's decision to reopen, questioning whether enough was done to prevent the tragedy. In February, the families of nine victims sued the state, alleging it failed to properly demand an evacuation plan. The family of Cecilia "Cile" Steward, whose body has not been found, is seeking to preserve the flood-damaged areas as evidence.

Camp officials, including director Edward Eastland, have apologized publicly and defended their actions. Edward Eastland testified that staff made desperate attempts to save campers, but time was insufficient. He acknowledged the anger is "completely reasonable." The camp has said it is committed to safety and hopes to continue its Christian mission.

Texas lawmakers have been sharply critical, holding hearings that revealed missed opportunities to alert campers and move them to higher ground. Investigations are ongoing, and a full report is expected later this year.

The camp's decision to halt reopening plans came after months of public pressure, with the statement noting that "no administrative process or summer season should move forward while families continue to grieve." This has been seen as a response to the widespread outrage from political leaders and families.

As the legal and regulatory processes continue, the future of Camp Mystic remains uncertain. The camp's withdrawal of its license application does not preclude a future reapplication, but it signals a likely pause in operations for this summer, bringing a measure of relief to those who opposed its reopening.