Key Takeaways
A Texas summer camp will not reopen for its 100th season after withdrawing its license application, a decision that follows the deaths of 27 people in a catastrophic flood last year and a state report finding more than 20 deficiencies in its emergency plans.
"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 said in a statement. The camp added that it chose to withdraw its application "rather than risk defending our rights under Texas law in a manner that may unintentionally effect further harm."
The withdrawal came after the Texas Department of State Health Services cited over 20 deficiencies in the all-girls camp's application, primarily concerning its flash flood evacuation plan. The camp was one of 174 in Texas instructed to revise emergency plans after the July 4, 2025, flood on the Guadalupe River killed 25 campers and two counselors. One camper, 8-year-old Cile Steward, remains missing.
The camp’s operators now face multiple wrongful death lawsuits, a criminal investigation by the Texas Rangers, and scrutiny from a state legislative committee. The parents of Cile Steward claimed the withdrawal was "a calculated exit from a license they were about to lose," not an act of accountability. "We are grateful that no child will be placed in the Eastlands' care this summer," they said in a statement.
The decision followed emotional legislative hearings where lawmakers questioned the camp's response to the flood. The family-run camp's leaders were pressed on key decisions, including why a loudspeaker system wasn't used to alert campers and why staff were reportedly moving property instead of responding to calls for help.
During testimony, co-director Edward Eastland apologized to the families of the victims. "The anger at us not being able to keep them safe feels completely reasonable. I have no excuses," Eastland said. State Sen. Charles Perry told the operators they would not have a license the next season if he had any say in the matter.
Further compounding the camp's issues, Chief Medical Officer Mary Liz Eastland confirmed in a hearing that she did not report the deaths to the Department of State Health Services within the required 24-hour timeframe, a violation of the Texas Administrative Code that can lead to license deficiencies.
The camp had initially planned to reopen on May 30 at its Cypress Lake location, which was less affected by the flood, and expected to welcome more than 800 girls. Camp Mystic has stated it will communicate directly with families regarding the refund of deposits and tuition. The multiple civil lawsuits filed against the camp will continue through the courts.
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