A Texas Christian girls camp where 27 people died in flash flooding last summer has pulled its application to resume operations this year, citing ongoing grief among families and unresolved investigations into the tragedy.
Camp Mystic announced Thursday it would not seek to reopen for the 2026 summer season, reversing course after facing opposition from state officials and relatives of those who perished in the July 4, 2025, disaster.
State Officials Had Urged Denial of Permit
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had publicly called on state health regulators to reject any application from the camp until all investigations concluded and corrective measures were implemented. Patrick emphasized that Texans deserved full transparency before the Department of State Health Services granted approval for the facility to operate again.
In its statement, camp leadership acknowledged the continuing pain felt across Texas and said no administrative procedures or preparations for summer programming should proceed while families remained in mourning and multiple probes continued.
Multiple Investigations Underway
Both criminal and civil investigations into the deadly flooding remain active. A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the camp’s owners, and court documents reveal those owners had been examining potential pathways to reopen despite the pending legal actions.
Earlier this month, a Texas judge issued an order requiring camp ownership to preserve many of the structures damaged in the flood as the wrongful death case advances through the judicial system. The ruling prevents alterations to the physical evidence while litigation continues.
Families Opposed Return to Operations
Relatives of victims had urged regulators to block any attempt by the camp to resume activities. The families’ advocacy, combined with pressure from state leadership, appears to have influenced the decision to withdraw the application.
The flash flooding occurred during the Independence Day holiday weekend in 2025, claiming the lives of campers and staff members who were at the facility. The precise circumstances that led to the deaths remain under investigation by multiple agencies.
What Comes Next
With the camp’s application now withdrawn, the focus shifts to the completion of ongoing investigations and the resolution of civil litigation. The wrongful death lawsuit is expected to proceed through the court system, potentially shedding additional light on what occurred during the catastrophic flooding and whether any negligence contributed to the loss of life. State health officials will not need to rule on the permit application, though regulatory scrutiny of youth camps across Texas may intensify as a result of the tragedy. No timeline has been established for when or if Camp Mystic might seek to operate again in the future.