Camp Mystic Retreats: 2026 Summer Season Scrapped Due To Community Outrage

A Central Texas summer camp does an about face and decides not to open for the summer 2026 season.

Public Backlash Forces Camp Mystic To Back Off Summer 2026 Re-Opening Plans

In a dramatic about-face, the owners of Camp Mystic announced Thursday that the historic Hill Country retreat will not open for the 2026 summer season. The decision comes after months of mounting pressure from grieving families, intense legislative scrutiny, and a series of brutal testimonies regarding the catastrophic flash flood that claimed the lives of 27campers and staff last year.

A Reversal Under Pressure

The all-girls Christian camp, which has operated along the Guadalupe River for a century, was determined to move forward with its summer schedule. It didn’t last long. Public hearings this past week exposed critical failures in the camp’s emergency protocols. Evidence presented during these investigations revealed a lack of comprehensive flood planning, insufficient staff training, and a fatal delay in evacuation efforts as the river surged from 14 feet to nearly 30 feet in just one hour.

Official Responses and Ongoing Inquiries

According to KWTX, state regulators confirmed that the camp officially withdrew its operating application on Thursday. This decision was immediately praised by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has been a vocal opponent of a 2026 reopening. Patrick characterized the withdrawal as the "correct decision" to ensure the safety of Texas kids while the legal process unfolds.

A Legal Nightmare

The camp’s surviving leadership has a tough road ahead. The Texas Department of State Health Services is currently vetting hundreds of complaints, while the Texas Rangers have started an investigation into potential allegations of criminal neglect.