Texas camp where 25 girls died drops reopening plans after parents protest

May 1, 2026

Camp Mystic, a Texas girls' summer camp where 27 people perished during catastrophic flooding last July, has announced it will not reopen this summer after withdrawing its license application. The decision came amid ongoing investigations into the camp's emergency evacuation procedures and intense opposition from families of victims who testified before state lawmakers. Texas health officials had determined the camp's emergency plans required substantial revisions before any license could be granted.

Who is affected

25 children and two counselors who died in the floods
Families of the 27 deceased, including Cici and Will Steward whose daughter Cila remains missing
The 800 girls who were expected to attend camp this summer
Parents whose children survived the floods, such as Liberty Lindley and her 10-year-old daughter
The Eastland family that operates Camp Mystic
Camp counselors and staff
Six families represented by attorney Sam Taylor in a lawsuit against the camp

What action is being taken

Multiple investigations into the camp's evacuation plans remain ongoing
The Texas Department of State Health Services is continuing its investigation
Families are pursuing a lawsuit against the camp

Why it matters

This decision is significant because it addresses public safety concerns at a camp located in a flood-prone area where inadequate emergency planning contributed to one of the deadliest incidents in the broader central Texas floods that killed over 130 people. The tragedy highlighted emergency warning failures across Texas and raised critical questions about oversight and accountability at summer camps statewide. The camp's closure prevents children from potentially being placed in unsafe conditions while investigations determine what went wrong and ensures that meaningful safety reforms can be implemented before any resumption of operations.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC