Camp Mystic owners apologize for deadly flood plan failures and push to reopen over Texas lawmakers’ objections

CNN ^ | April 29, 2026 | Ashley Killough; Ed Lavendera

[CondoleezzaProtege]

After two days of emotional testimony, Texas lawmakers and investigators Tuesday laid out a grim assessment of Camp Mystic’s leaders’ role in last summer’s devastating floods that left 27 dead: no real evacuation plan and a delayed response as waters rose. That’s raised mounting doubts for state lawmakers about whether the camp should reopen as planned.

The work of the state legislative committee – led by the same two investigators lawmakers hired in 2022 to investigate the Uvalde school massacre – offered the clearest picture yet of what happened at Camp Mystic’s Guadalupe River campus in July, pieced together through heart-wrenching testimony and chilling accounts.

The investigators said the Eastland family, which owns and runs the camp, failed to build a flash flood evacuation plan, hold drills or give camp counselors any serious training in preparation for a major weather event.

And despite closely monitoring weather alerts in the early morning hours of the flooding, Dick Eastland, the longtime and beloved camp director, waited far too long to take action, investigators said. He died in the floodwaters after evacuating several campers and trying to save others.

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TOPICS: US: Texas
KEYWORDS: campmystic; coverup; flood; negligence; texas; tx; txhillcountry

[CondoleezzaProtege]

[lee martell]

They dare to describe a plan for ‘re-opening’, after that unfathomable disaster? One would think the owners would at very least want to change the name of the facility.
It would be like a Cruise Company christening their new ship
the “Titanic”. “We are accepting reservations!”

[rottndog]

I don’t see how a camp for kids could be allowed below the high water mark of a river that floods frequently. The existing structure needs to be bulldozed.

[spincaster]

I can tell you that a kids camp in a flood plain is a gigantic error. It doesn’t made how many times they apologize, it will never be enough. The camp should never be allowed to open again, ever!

[The Great RJ]

Most of the camp is in a flood plain and under any type of zoning they could not rebuild on that site. Even if flood plain restrictions are lax why would any thinking person want to rebuild there?

[oldplayer]

I have been through this area many times on motorcycle cycle rides. My only insight is that in my wildest dreams I can’t imagine the Guadalupe River (which is tiny at this point and for miles upstream) raising to even the base of these camp structures, much less inundating them and washing them away. In hindsight, I see it now.

[AZJeep]

Flash floods are unfortunate part of life in the West.
Using flood plain for recreation is very common, and probably one of the best use of that land, but no living quarters like dormitories should be allowed there!.

[T.B. Yoits]

Optimally dormitories would be above the high water mark.

And even if the camp was a day camp only, safety towers would be in order.

[stanne]

Close it down and move on. Theres a girl still unaccounted for.

Weirdos