AUSTIN (Nexstar) — After a week filled with criticism — and even a promise from a lawmaker to shut them down — Camp Mystic’s owners announced Thursday they will not reopen this summer amid multiple investigations and lawsuits.
“No administrative process or summer season should move forward while families continue to grieve, while investigations continue and while so many Texans still carry the pain of last July’s tragedy,” the camp operators said in a statement.
Earlier this week the Eastland family, who have owned the all-girl Christian camp since 1939, testified to an investigative committee of lawmakers tasked with examining the facts of what happened at the camp on July 4 last year.
“I think about the night of the flood every moment of every day,” Edward Eastland said to families of the victims on Tuesday. “We tried our hardest that night and it wasn’t enough to save your daughters.” Edward was one of three adults at the camp who were actively trying to evacuate campers as waters rose.
Twenty-five campers and two counselors, along with Edward’s father, Dick, died during the Independence Day floods last year. Investigators hired by the legislative committee said on Monday that the camp directors could have acted sooner to evacuate the campers and had a chance to save everyone. The investigators also revealed that the camp did not train its counselors on what to do in an emergency.
Camp Mystic was slated to welcome back more than 800 campers this summer, with counselors reporting as early as May 30. The camp was in the process of renewing its license with the Texas Department of State Health Services as the agency was actively investigating complaints filed against the camp.
Lawmakers questioned if the Eastlands should be allowed to reopen this summer. State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, told the family he did not think they deserved another chance to reopen, especially since after DSHS found 22 deficiencies in its proposed emergency plan for this summer.
“Y’all will not be an operator next session, next season, if I can have anything to say with that,” Perry said.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was one of the most vocal critics of Camp Mystic and called on DSHS to close them for this summer. Following the camp’s announcement, Patrick posted on his X account, “Given the tragic circumstances, this is the correct decision to protect Texas campers and to allow time for all investigations to be completed.”
“This decision is intended to remove any doubt that Camp Mystic has heard the concerns expressed by grieving families, members of the Texas House and Senate investigating committees and citizens across our state,” the camp’s statement reads. “Respect for those voices requires that we step back now.”
On Tuesday, Mary Liz Eastland, the wife of Edward and co-director of the Guadalupe site that was damaged, told lawmakers that the family was willing to take a step back. The camp said Thursday’s announcement does not end its special bond with the Mystic families.
The Eastlands said they will continue to cooperate with all the ongoing investigations.
State Rep. Wes Virdell, R – Brady, who represents the district where Camp Mystic is located, has supported the camp throughout the investigations.
“I hope no one ever has to endure a tragedy like the July 4 floods,” Virdell said in a statment to Nexstar. “My prayer is that this time can be used for all involved to grieve and heal in the coming year. As Texans and Americans, we should be more careful before casting stones at individuals who are already carrying the weight of the world while under a microscope.”
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