Tragedy in Texas: Camp Mystic to Reopen After Deadly Flooding

FILE-A view of a damaged building at Camp Mystic, the site of where multiple girls went missing after flash flooding in Hunt, Texas, on July 5, 2025. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

KERRVILLE, Texas – Camp Mystic, a popular Christian summer camp where 25 young girls and two staffers were killed in the deadly Central Texas flooding, will reopen next summer.

The camp announced their plans to implement the new Texas safety protocols ahead of reopening in a letter Monday.

Reopening Plans

The latest: The camp’s letter begins by promising a memorial to the 27 people who died while staying at the property on the Fourth of July weekend.

They then say they will reopen with the new “Heaven’s 27 Safety Act” in place. The legislation passed during the second Texas Special Session of the legislature, and requires stricter practices for summer camps, as well as restrictions on flood plain construction.

It’s specified in the letter that one of their properties, Camp Mystic Guadalupe River, is too damaged to reopen alongside the other facilities. They say their ongoing plans to restore that site will comply with new regulations, and ensure that campers will not return to cabins that had flood water inside them.

Read the full letter below:

New Texas Summer Camp Regulations

Dig deeper: House Bill 1, which has been deemed “Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act,” requires an online list of licensed youth camps, an emergency plan for different scenarios that staff are trained on.

Senate Bill 1 prohibits the licensing of youth camps that have cabins in floodplains.

Senate Bill 3 requires outdoor warning sirens in areas prone to flooding.

One bill that did not pass during the special session would have set licensing requirements for emergency management coordinators.

These are to be made available to parents, weather radios in each cabin, instillation of emergency ladders, a warning system to alert all campers and staff, and a safety orientation for all campers.

Parents of the campers who were lost supported the legislation throughout the process. Several family members were presented with pens used to sign the bills when they became law.

Opposition to the New Laws

But a petition circulating online suggested state lawmakers moved too fast and urged the governor to veto the bills.

The organizers claim the new laws will create an excessive financial burden on the owners of youth camps across Texas.

The Deadly Texas Flooding

The backstory: In the early hours on July 4, four months worth of rain fell in Central Texas, in an area referred to as “flash flood alley.”

The Guadalupe River soon swelled far past its banks, sending a nearly 30-foot wall of water rushing down the floodplains while residents and campers slept.

Summer camps, including Camp Mystic, had cabins built in and near known flood plains. Many people were killed in the floods, and long-lasting efforts to recover missing people enlisted the help of thousands of first responders and volunteers from across the nation.

In the aftermath, questions were raised about warning sirens, emergency preparedness plans, and response times in the towns and camps affected by the disaster. These concerns prompted the new Texas regulations.

Conclusion

The reopening of Camp Mystic is a significant step towards healing and recovery for the families and communities affected by the tragic events of July 2025. The new Texas safety protocols and regulations aim to prevent such disasters in the future, and it is essential to continue monitoring and improving these measures to ensure the safety of all campers and staff.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happened at Camp Mystic in July 2025?

A: A flash flood occurred, resulting in the deaths of 25 young girls and two staffers.

Q: Will Camp Mystic reopen?

A: Yes, the camp plans to reopen in 2026 with new safety protocols in place.

Q: What are the new Texas safety protocols for summer camps?

A: The new protocols include stricter practices for summer camps, restrictions on flood plain construction, online lists of licensed youth camps, emergency plans, and warning systems.

Q: Why were the new laws opposed by some?

A: Some argued that the new laws would create an excessive financial burden on the owners of youth camps across Texas.

Q: What can be done to prevent similar tragedies in the future?

A: Continuing to monitor and improve safety protocols, emergency preparedness plans, and response times is crucial to preventing similar disasters.