Camp Mystic Owners Ignored Flood Risks and Safety Rules: A Preventable Tragedy?
The tragic events at Camp Mystic on July 4th, 2025, where 27 campers and counselors lost their lives in a devastating flash flood, have sparked outrage and legal action, raising serious questions about the camp owners’ alleged negligence and disregard for safety regulations. With the Guadalupe River swelling to unprecedented levels, a fun summer getaway turned into a nightmare, leaving families grieving and demanding accountability. Shockingly, reports indicate that the camp had a history of flooding issues, and in 2011, FEMA designated parts of the property a Special Flood Hazard Area.
A History of Flooding and Ignored Warnings
Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp in Kerr County, Texas, has been a fixture along the Guadalupe River since 1926. However, its idyllic location has also made it vulnerable to the river’s unpredictable nature. The camp suffered a flash flood as early as 1932, which washed away several cabins. In 1978 and 1984, the camp faced flooding again, with a program director in 1978 recounting hauling over 100 campers in station wagons to higher ground in the dead of night. Despite this history, lawsuits allege that the camp owners, the Eastland family, failed to take adequate precautions to protect the campers and staff from future floods.
The families of the victims are now claiming that Camp Mystic owners ignored flood risks and safety rules. The lawsuit alleges the camp had no formal evacuation plan and camp directors failed to evacuate and instructed counselors and campers to stay in their cabins even as the water rose. According to reports, some campers defied those orders and escaped to higher ground just yards away and survived while younger girls, including the children named in the lawsuit, drowned as floodwaters filled their cabins.
Lawsuits Allege Gross Negligence and Reckless Disregard for Safety
Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Camp Mystic and its owners, alleging “gross negligence and reckless disregard for safety.” The families accuse the camp of putting “profit over safety” by housing campers in cabins located in flood-prone areas to avoid the cost of relocating them. The suits also claim that the camp failed to implement adequate safety procedures, ignored weather warnings, and did not have a viable evacuation plan in place.
Specifically, the lawsuits allege that:
- Camp Mystic failed to adopt state-required evacuation plans and ignored weather warnings.
- Camp leaders allegedly told campers to remain in their cabins and prioritized protecting property over human life.
- The camp allegedly evacuated only five cabins, leaving others, including the Bubble Inn and Twins cabins, exposed to the floods.
- Camp Mystic did not make a proper safety plan in the event of flooding and instead instructed counselors on the Flats to stay in their cabins in the event of a flood unless told otherwise.
- The camp had told counselors that all the cabins were “constructed on high, safe locations,” the lawsuit alleges, characterizing the assertion as a falsehood.
Adding to the outrage, it has been revealed that Camp Mystic officials announced plans to partially reopen the camp for the summer of 2026, a decision that was met with condemnation from the victims’ families. One of the lawsuits accuses the camp of “using the deceased girls as a recruiting tool, touting a ‘memorial’ they would build in their honor – without ever asking the parents of the girls.”
Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of Summer Camp Owners
Summer camps have a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in their care. This includes:
- Providing a safe environment: Camps must regularly inspect and maintain their facilities to prevent accidents and injuries.
- Supervision: Camps must maintain appropriate staff-to-camper ratios to ensure adequate supervision.
- Emergency preparedness: Camps must have comprehensive emergency plans in place, including evacuation procedures, medical protocols, and communication strategies.
- Background checks: Camps must conduct thorough background checks on all staff members to ensure the safety of campers.
- Insurance coverage: Camps must carry adequate liability insurance to protect against potential claims.
In Texas, summer camps must comply with various licensing requirements to operate legally. These regulations are designed to ensure that camps provide a safe and healthy environment for children. Key requirements include: State Licensing: Camps must obtain a license from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) if they provide child care. This involves submitting an application, passing inspections, and meeting health and safety standards.
New Legislation Aims to Improve Camp Safety
In the wake of the Camp Mystic tragedy, Texas lawmakers have passed new legislation aimed at strengthening safety regulations for youth camps. Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), renamed Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, would restrict the state from licensing youth camps where cabins are located in floodplains, unless the floodplain is around a lake or another still body of water. The bill would also require camp operators to make preparations to evacuate campers in floodplains any time the National Weather Service issues flood or flash flood warnings, with evacuation routes clearly displayed in all camp cabins.
These new laws, also known as the Camper Act, will require camps to install and maintain emergency alert systems; train staff on emergency routes; require cabins to be located away from flood plains; and mandate state inspections, among other things. These laws are in addition to Senate Bill 3, which requires local governments to install outdoor warning sirens in flood-prone areas.
Seeking Justice and Preventing Future Tragedies
The lawsuits against Camp Mystic seek to hold the owners accountable for their alleged negligence and to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. The families are seeking damages for wrongful death, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty. They are also calling for policy changes to improve safety and emergency preparedness across Texas youth camps.
The Camp Mystic tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety over profit and of the devastating consequences that can result from negligence and disregard for safety regulations. As the legal proceedings unfold, it is hoped that justice will be served and that meaningful changes will be implemented to protect children attending summer camps in Texas and across the country.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have been injured as a result of negligence, please consult with a qualified attorney to discuss your legal options.