KERR COUNTY, Texas (Talk1370.com) -- Officials from Camp Mystic say they are withdrawing their application seeking a license to operate this summer, following hearings this week over the deadly July 4 flooding that killed 25 campers, two counselors, and the camp's longtime owner.
"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," Camp Mystic said in a release. "We commend DSHS for their testimony this week that recognized their legal obligations. But rather than risk defending our rights under Texas law in a manner that may unintentionally effect further harm, we choose rather to withdraw our application for the 2026 camp season."
The camp had been seeking to re-open its Cypress Lake campus - which did not flood last year - on May 30.
“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 wrote. “Respect for those voices requires that we step back now.”
All week, that joint committee of state legislators heard testimony from investigators, the camp's operators, and family members of the victims of last year's flood, with a focus on emergency protocols and whether the camp should be allowed to re-open this summer.
Last week, state health officials notified Camp Mystic that its submitted emergency plan contained 27 deficiencies, including inadequate flood evacuation plans, monitoring of safety alerts, and the use of emergency warning systems within the camp.
