Camp Mystic Faces Scrutiny Over Reopening Plans After Deadly Flooding
Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls camp in Texas, plans to reopen less than a year after catastrophic floods in the Texas Hill Country resulted in the deaths of 25 young campers and two teenage counselors. The camp's owners have announced safety improvements and intend to keep areas closest to the Guadalupe River closed. However, this decision has sparked outrage among the victims' families. Texas health regulators are currently reviewing whether to renew the camp's license, which would allow it to resume operations and mark its 100th anniversary. The camp's emergency plan, approved by state inspectors just days before the flood, is under scrutiny as it failed to prevent the tragedy. The floodwaters, which rose rapidly on July 4, 2025, overtook cabins housing the youngest girls, leading to the fatalities. In response, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed new laws to prevent similar incidents, including prohibiting cabins in flood zones and mandating detailed emergency plans.