Owners of an all-girls summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, where 25 campers and two teenage counselors died. The catastrophic July 4 floods He announced plans Tuesday for new safety upgrades that will be implemented when part of the camp opens next summer.
The owners of Camp Mystic said in a letter to parents that they plan to go beyond that New camp safety laws It was passed by the Legislature and signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in the wake of devastating floods that killed at least 136 people and swept away homes and vehicles.
“We are preparing for next summer at Camp Mystic Cypress Lake and know that safety is a top concern for all of you, as it is for us,” the Eastland family wrote in the letter to parents of Camp Mystic campers. “We thank the 27 Sky Families and our state leaders for passing legislation to help make camps safer, and our goal is to not only comply with the new camp safety laws, but exceed their requirements.”
The children and counselors who died became known as the “Heaven 27.” Camp Mystic owners include spouse and other family members dick Eastland, Who also died in the floods.
Enhanced safety measures at the camp include four flood warning river monitors designed to provide early detection of high water events, two-way radios in every cabin equipped with national weather alerts and high-capacity generators to maintain power in critical areas of the camp, including its office and dining hall.
“We recognize that returning to Camp Mystic brings hope and heartache,” the Eastland family said in the letter. “For many of your daughters, this return is not simple, but it is a courageous step in their healing journey.”
Eastland family Announced in September They plan to build a memorial to the girls who died in the floods and reopen Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, a separate property not adjacent to the Guadalupe River that suffered no damage in the July 4 floods. The plan has drawn strong criticism from some of the victims’ families, who say they were never consulted about Camp Mystic’s plans.
“To promote reopening less than three months after the tragedy — while a camper is still missing — is unthinkable,” CiCi and Will Steward, whose 8-year-old daughter, Celie Steward, died in the flood and whose body has not yet been recovered, wrote to Camp Mystic officials when their reopening plan was first announced.
Families of a number of girls who died in the floods A lawsuit was filed against Camp Mystic and Eastlands in state court, alleging that camp operators failed to take necessary steps to protect campers as life-threatening floodwaters approached.
Camp Mystic plans to offer six separate 10-day sessions in 2026, beginning on May 30 and ending on August 9. They also plan to offer camp tours in April for registered campers, counselors and their parents.