After July floods that killed 25 campers and 2 teenage counselors, Camp Mystic is preparing to reopen. The 100-year-old all-girls Christian retreat plans to accept new campers in January, with arrivals slated for May on higher ground than the area where fast-rising waters on the Guadalupe River destroyed two cabins.
Reopening plan and safety upgrades
Camp Mystic’s owners wrote a letter to families this month: “We recognize that returning to Camp Mystic carries both hope and heartache,” and added, “For many of your daughters, this return is not simple, but it is a courageous step in their healing journey.” The camp will open on higher ground, and the Eastland family, whose owner Dick Eastland died in the flood, has pledged new safety measures. Planned upgrades include two-way radios in every cabin and new flood-warning river monitors. A spokesperson said there is “strong interest” in enrollment, though the exact number of returning girls remains unclear.
Family reactions
Patrick Hotze, whose three daughters survived, said, “My heart is broken for them,” and noted that “I think it’s different for each kid and each family.” Some parents see the reopening as a vital step toward healing; others view it as insensitive. The parents of six girls who died released a statement: “As parents of children who were killed at Camp Mystic last summer, we are deeply hurt but, sadly, not shocked by yet another insensitive announcement from Camp Mystic focused on enrollment.” Legal claims allege the camp failed to protect children, ordering girls and counselors in cabins closest to the river to stay inside as waters overwhelmed the property. Hundreds of 911 calls released by authorities included a woman a mile downriver who said two campers were swept away.
Legal and political context
Texas legislators will hold investigative hearings next year, but have shown little appetite to assign blame. Local leaders in Kerr County, including two who were asleep when the waters rose, remain in their jobs after defending preparations and evacuation efforts. They are steering a slow recovery while working to expedite a new flood-warning system before campers return. Attorney Mikal Watts said camp officials contacted former campers who witnessed earlier floods and reported that those events were “nowhere near as high or as powerful as this year.” The July floods were at least the fifth deadly event in a century in the area known as “Flash Flood Alley.”
Key Takeaways
- Camp Mystic plans to reopen in 2025 with higher-ground cabins and upgraded safety equipment.
- Families are divided; some see reopening as healing, others see it as insensitive.
- Lawsuits and state investigations are ongoing, with local leaders defending their actions.
The debate over Camp Mystic’s return highlights the challenges of balancing safety, remembrance, and the desire of families to move forward.
