Full Breakdown
Camp Mystic Withdraws License Application, Cancels 2026 Summer Season
5/2/2026, 3:51:43 AM
The Decision to Cancel Summer Operations
Camp Mystic, the private Christian girls’ camp in Hunt, Texas, announced on April 30, 2026 that it has withdrawn its application for a 2026 operating license from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The withdrawal means the camp will not reopen for the summer, despite having registered more than 800 girls for the season. Camp officials said the move was made “out of respect for grieving families, while investigations continue and while so many Texans still carry the pain of last July’s tragedy.”
Background: 2025 Flood Tragedy and Regulatory Response
On July 4, 2025, a flash flood on the Guadalupe River swept through Camp Mystic’s Cypress Lake site, killing 25 campers, 2 teenage counselors, and camp director Dick Eastland (official counts vary between 27 and 28 deaths). The disaster prompted Texas lawmakers to enact stricter camp-safety statutes requiring written evacuation plans, public-address systems, and regular drills. DSHS subsequently identified 22-24 deficiencies in the camp’s revised emergency plan for 2026.
Key Figures & Groups
- Eastland family: Edward Eastland (director), Mary Liz Eastland (medical director), Britt Eastland, Richard Eastland.
- Victims’ families: Cici and Will Steward (parents of missing Cile Steward), Matthew Childress (father of counselor Chloe Childress), among others.
- State officials: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott, DSHS spokesperson Lara Anton, Texas Rangers, Senate/House Joint Investigating Committee (Sen. Charles Perry, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst).
Timeline of Recent Events
- July 4, 2025: Flood kills 25 campers, 2 counselors, Dick Eastland.
- December 2025: Camp announces intent to reopen May 30, 2026.
- April 28-29, 2026: Two-day legislative hearing; testimonies from Eastlands, families, and investigators.
- April 30, 2026: Camp withdraws license application; officials issue statements.
Data & Statistics
- Death toll: 25 campers + 2 counselors + director = 28 fatalities (some reports list 27).
- Registered campers for 2026: > 800 girls.
- DSHS deficiencies: ? 22 (“nearly two dozen”).
- Lawsuits: multiple wrongful-death actions, including a suit by the Stewards and a collective action representing six families.
Why It Matters
The closure underscores gaps in emergency preparedness for youth camps and tests the enforcement of Texas’s post-flood safety legislation. It also affects the Hill Country’s seasonal economy and sets a precedent for regulatory oversight of private recreational facilities.
Official Statements & Responses
- Camp Mystic: withdrew its application to avoid “defending our rights … in a manner that may unintentionally affect further harm” and pledged full cooperation with investigations.
- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: thanked the camp for withdrawing, calling it “the correct decision to protect Texas campers.”
- Gov. Greg Abbott: expressed that “our hearts are with the families” and noted ongoing DSHS and Texas Rangers investigations.
- DSHS (Lara Anton): confirmed receipt of the withdrawal and said the agency continues to investigate numerous complaints.
Criticism & Opposition
Victims’ families, notably the Stewards, argued the withdrawal was “a calculated exit from a license they were about to lose,” not an act of respect. Sen. Charles Perry urged regulators to deny any future license, stating the camp “should not be allowed to operate again.” Attorney Sam Taylor, representing six families, said the work continues until “full accountability … and real, enforceable safeguards” are in place.
On-the-Ground Reports
During the hearings, parents described chaotic evacuations: counselors forced to escape through windows, children left in cabins as floodwaters rose, and the ongoing search for missing Cile Steward.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Fatalities: sources list 27, 28, or 25 campers + 2 counselors + director.
- Deficiencies: reported as 22, 24, or “nearly two dozen.”
- Missing child: Cile Steward remains unaccounted for.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We tried our hardest that night and it wasn’t enough to save your daughters.” — Edward Eastland, testimony.
- “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.” — Camp Mystic statement.
- “I am thankful to hear that, today, the Eastland family withdrew their application,” — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, X post.
- “Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones and those recovering from last year's devastating Fourth of July floods.” — Gov. Greg Abbott, statement.
- “It was a calculated exit from a license they were about to lose.” — Cici and Will Steward, statement.
- “and the anger at us for not being able to keep them safe feels completely reasonable.” — Edward Eastland, hearing testimony.
What’s Next
DSHS will continue its investigation and may issue further findings; the Texas Rangers’ criminal probe remains active. Families plan to pursue pending lawsuits, and state legislators are expected to consider additional safeguards for youth camps before any future license applications are evaluated.
