In the quiet hills of Kerr County, Texas, the echoes of tragedy still linger along the banks of the Guadalupe River. Yet, hope and resilience are stirring at Camp Mystic, the storied Christian girls’ camp where 27 campers and counselors lost their lives in catastrophic flooding on July 4, 2025. Now, just over a year later, the camp’s leadership has announced plans to partially reopen for its 100th anniversary in summer 2026—a decision that has been met with both anticipation and controversy among families and the broader community.
Camp Mystic, a cherished institution since 1926, has been a summer home for generations of girls from across Texas and beyond. The events of July 4, 2025, however, marked the darkest chapter in its history. According to Reuters and FOX Texas Digital, four months’ worth of rain fell in a matter of hours, causing the Guadalupe River to surge nearly 30 feet and sweep through cabins built in the floodplain. The disaster claimed the lives of 25 campers, two counselors, and the camp’s owner and executive director, Richard “Dick” Eastland, who died heroically attempting to rescue children from the rising waters.
In the aftermath, questions swirled about the camp’s preparedness and the wisdom of placing cabins in known flood-prone areas. As reported by the Austin American-Statesman, Camp Mystic’s emergency instructions at the time directed campers and counselors to remain in their cabins during floods, with the assertion that “all cabins are constructed on high, safe locations.” That guidance, and whether the camp adequately monitored weather alerts, has become a focal point for grieving families and legal experts alike. Lawsuits are widely expected, and personal injury law firms have already begun soliciting clients, KHOU 11 News noted.
Despite the devastation, the Eastland family—who have run the camp for three generations—has expressed a determination to rebuild. In a heartfelt letter sent to parents and obtained by KSAT and other outlets, the camp announced that Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, an extension completed in 2020 and situated beside Cypress Creek, will reopen for the 2026 season. Notably, this part of the property saw no deaths or injuries during the flood. The original Camp Mystic Guadalupe River site, where the tragedy unfolded, suffered such extensive damage that it will not reopen next year. However, the family is evaluating plans to rebuild and eventually restore the historic site.
“Because of the devastating damage sustained by Camp Mystic Guadalupe River, we will not be able to re-open in 2026,” the Eastland family wrote. “We are not only rebuilding cabins and trails, but also a place where laughter, friendship and spiritual growth will continue to flourish. As we work to finalize plans, we will do so in a way that is mindful of those we have lost.”
Camp officials are finalizing arrangements to allow former Guadalupe River campers to attend the Cypress Lake site next summer, with camp dates to be released in early October 2025. The reopening coincides with Camp Mystic’s centennial, a milestone that the family hopes will mark a new era of safety and remembrance.
Central to the camp’s reopening is compliance with sweeping new safety legislation enacted in the wake of the disaster. The Texas legislature passed the “Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act” during a special session in summer 2025, named in honor of the 27 victims. As detailed by FOX Texas Digital and KSAT, the law requires all youth camps to develop detailed emergency preparedness plans, train staff on evacuation routes, install outdoor warning sirens, and prohibit the licensing of camps with cabins located in floodplains. Each cabin must also display evacuation routes, and weather radios must be present in every building. The law further mandates an online list of licensed youth camps and requires a safety orientation for all campers.
Governor Greg Abbott signed the legislation into law in September 2025, with several parents of the victims present and even receiving pens used in the signing. “Our plans will comply with the new requirements of the new camp safety legislation,” the Eastland family assured in their letter. “Never having campers return to cabins that had floodwaters inside them” is now a guiding principle of their planning and procedures.
Not everyone is satisfied with the legislative response. While many parents supported the new regulations, seeing them as vital steps to prevent future tragedies, others have voiced concerns about the financial burden these laws could place on smaller, independent camps across Texas. A petition circulated online urged the governor to veto the bills, arguing that the rapid legislative process did not give enough consideration to the practical challenges camps would face in compliance.
Amid the legal and regulatory fallout, Camp Mystic’s leadership has also announced plans to create a memorial dedicated to those lost in the July 4 disaster. “We hope this space will serve as a place of reflection and remembrance of these beautiful girls. We continue to pray for the grieving families and all those who lost loved ones,” the Eastland family wrote in their message to camp families. Yet, as KHOU 11 News reported, some families of the victims have criticized the decision to proceed with the memorial without broader consultation. One parent told the New York Times they felt blindsided by the announcement, underscoring the delicate balance the camp must strike between honoring the past and moving forward.
Camp Mystic’s history is marked by resilience but also by reminders of nature’s unpredictability. The camp previously survived significant floods in 1932, 1978, and 1987, though none with such a tragic toll. In July 1932, a flood swept away six cabins at Camp Mystic, resulting in seven deaths elsewhere in the region. During the 1978 and 1987 disasters, the camp was cut off from the outside world and had to evacuate, but fatalities occurred at other camps along the Guadalupe River.
As summer 2026 approaches, the return of Camp Mystic Cypress Lake stands as both a tribute to a century of tradition and a test of new safety standards. For the families who lost loved ones, the reopening is bittersweet—tinged with grief, hope, and the fervent desire that no family endure such loss again. The camp’s future will likely be shaped by ongoing legal proceedings, the evolving expectations of parents, and the enduring spirit of its community.
For now, as the green gates of Camp Mystic prepare to welcome a new generation, the memory of those lost remains at the heart of every plan, every precaution, and every prayer.
