5 Critical Facts About Camp Mystic's Reopening And The 'Heaven's 27' Tragedy

The question of "will Camp Mystic ever reopen" has finally been answered, but the path forward is fraught with controversy and marked by tragedy. As of late December 2025, the iconic Christian girls' summer camp in Hunt, Texas, has announced a partial reopening for the Summer 2026 season, nearly a year after a catastrophic flood devastated its original campus. This decision, however, is not a return to business as usual; it is a complex move tied to new state safety legislation, ongoing wrongful death lawsuits, and a profound change in the camp's physical location and management.

The reopening plan focuses exclusively on the camp’s secondary, higher-elevation property, Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, while the original site along the Guadalupe River remains permanently closed following the loss of 27 lives. The camp's future is now inextricably linked to a new era of stringent safety protocols mandated by Texas lawmakers, ensuring that the legacy of those lost drives a new standard for youth camps across the state.

The Legacy and Loss: A Biography of Dick Eastland and Camp Mystic's History

Camp Mystic is not just a summer camp; it is a multi-generational institution in the Texas Hill Country. Its history is deeply intertwined with the Eastland family, who have operated the camp for decades.

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• Camp Name: Camp Mystic for Girls
• Location: Hunt, Kerr County, Texas, along the Guadalupe River.
• Founding: Established in the early 20th century.
• Ownership: The Eastland Family (Third-generation operators).
• Executive Directors: Richard G. "Dick" Eastland and Tweety Eastland.
• Tenure: Dick and Tweety Eastland have been at Mystic since 1974.
• Tragedy: On July 4, 2025, a flash flood along the Guadalupe River claimed 27 lives, including campers, counselors, and longtime owner Dick Eastland.
• Heroism: Dick Eastland was widely hailed as a hero for his actions during the flood, reportedly sacrificing his own life while attempting to save others.
• Affiliation: Nondenominational Christian girls' camp.

The devastating July 2025 flood was not the first time Camp Mystic had faced high water, but it was by far the most catastrophic. The floodwaters, which reportedly reached the roofline of some cabins in previous decades, completely destroyed the original camp infrastructure. The loss of Dick Eastland, a beloved figure and a member of the third generation to operate the camp, marked a tragic end to an era for the historic Guadalupe River location.

Fact 1: The Answer is Yes, But Only Partially and With a Delay

The definitive answer to the question of reopening is a conditional "yes." The original Camp Mystic campus, situated directly on the low-lying bank of the Guadalupe River, will not reopen. The destruction was too extensive, and the flood risk is now deemed too high following the recent disaster.

Instead, the Eastland family and the camp’s management have announced a partial reopening of the newer, secondary site: Camp Mystic Cypress Lake. This property is located at a higher elevation, on a hill overlooking a back lake and past Natural Fountains, and is considered "completely independent" of the older, flood-prone river campus. The targeted date for this partial return to operation is Summer 2026. This timeline allows for the implementation of sweeping safety changes and compliance with new state laws.

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Fact 2: The Reopening is Tied to the 'Heaven's 27 Camp Safety Act'

The decision to reopen is directly linked to new safety legislation passed by the Texas Legislature. The new law, known as the Heaven's 27 Camp Safety Act (SB 1), was passed in September 2025 and signed into law by the Texas Governor. The name is a direct and somber reference to the 27 lives lost at Camp Mystic.

The Act introduces comprehensive new safety regulations that all youth camps in Texas must follow, especially those in flood-prone areas. Camp Mystic's management has publicly stated their intention to exceed these new requirements, which include:

• Mandatory, comprehensive flood warning systems, such as new flood warning sirens at the Cypress Lake property.
• Updated evacuation plans and protocols.
• Enhanced staff training for severe weather and emergency response.
• Stricter oversight and amendments to Chapter 141 of the Texas Human Resources Code.

This legislative change, alongside the companion bill the Youth CAMPER Act (HB 1), represents a historic and necessary step to make Texas summer camps safer.

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Fact 3: The Camp Faces Multiple Wrongful Death Lawsuits

Despite the plans for a partial reopening and the commitment to new safety standards, Camp Mystic and the Eastland family are currently facing multiple wrongful death lawsuits. The tragic loss of life has led to legal action by the families of several campers and counselors.

The core of the lawsuits, which have been filed in Travis County District Court, alleges negligence and gross negligence on the part of the camp’s management and related entities. Specific accusations include:

• A lack of adequate and updated safety plans for severe flooding.
• Prioritizing the camp's financial interests over camper safety.
• Faulty evacuation procedures, such as evacuating "only one cabin at a time" instead of seeking immediate help from emergency responders.
• Accusations that the camp lobbied FEMA to not update the flood map in the past.

The decision to announce a 2026 reopening while these legal battles are ongoing has been met with significant opposition from some of the grieving families, adding a layer of ethical and emotional complexity to the camp's future.

Fact 4: The Cypress Lake Campus is a Separate, Safer Entity

The distinction between the two Camp Mystic properties is crucial for understanding the reopening. The original campus, often referred to as Camp Mystic Guadalupe, was located directly adjacent to the river, a known flood risk area.

Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, however, was built as an extension of the original camp on a higher, safer ridge. It is situated beside Cypress Creek, a tributary of the Guadalupe, but its elevation provides a critical buffer against the kind of catastrophic flash flooding that destroyed the lower campus. By reopening this site, the camp is attempting to honor its tradition while adhering to a fundamentally different, and safer, operational model.

Fact 5: The Future of the Original Property is Uncertain

While the Cypress Lake campus prepares for a new chapter, the fate of the original, flood-ravaged property remains uncertain. The camp owners have confirmed that the area along the Guadalupe River will not be rebuilt or reopened for summer camp activities in 2026.

The original site, which was the heart of the Camp Mystic experience for generations, now stands as a memorial to the tragedy. The profound damage, the high number of fatalities, and the new legislative and legal environment make any future use of the flood plain property highly unlikely for a youth camp. The focus has entirely shifted to the higher-ground, safer Cypress Lake facility, marking a permanent and necessary change for the nearly century-old Texas institution.