Camp Mystic to reopen at nearby site next summer with new safety protocols after Texas floods

Camp Mystic announced Monday that it will reopen next summer at a nearby site with new safety protocols after the deadly Fourth of July floods on the Guadalupe River killed 27 campers and staffers. The plan calls for reopening at Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, a sister site that opened in 2020, while the primary site, Camp Mystic Guadalupe, remains too damaged to use next year.

The reopening will be guided by the Heaven's 27 Safety Act, a package of bills passed during Texas' second Special Session. The acts prohibit cabins from being built in flood-prone zones and require camp operators to develop stringent emergency plans. One bill allocates $240 million from the state’s rainy day fund for disaster relief, warning sirens and improved weather forecasting. Camp Mystic described the move as rooted in broader safety reforms championed by families and lawmakers alike, writing in emails to families that the plan would follow “requirements of the camp safety legislation you bravely championed.” The camp also announced it would erect a memorial for the young campers and staffers who perished, saying the design would “capture the beauty, kindness, and grace they all shared.”

Officials noted that Camp Mystic Cypress Lake would reopen next summer, while the Guadalupe site remains closed as engineers and other experts assess how to implement the new safety changes. Survivors and families will also be affected by ongoing safety measures, but the camp expressed a hopeful view, promising to restore a space where “laughter, friendship, and spiritual growth will continue to flourish.”

The flood unfolded in the predawn hours of July 4, with the National Weather Service issuing a flash-flood warning at 1:14 a.m. for the county deemed to have “catastrophic” potential for loss of life. The camp was hit around 3 a.m., according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal. Camp counselors attempted to keep order as panicked campers, many asleep, fled through windows and up a rocky hill in darkness as fast-rising floodwaters swept through the grounds. At least 27 campers and staffers were swept away and killed, and one camper, 8-year-old Cile Steward, was never found.

The announcement drew swift reaction from some of the camp’s families. Blake Bonner, father of Lila Bonner, 9, who died in the flood, said in a statement to The New York Times that the families had not been consulted about the memorial plans. “The families of deceased Camp Mystic campers and counselors were not consulted about and did not approve this memorial,” he said. Cici Steward, mother of the still-missing Cile Steward, told the Times, “The truth is, Camp Mystic failed our daughters … Recovery teams are still out there, scouring the river, risking and sacrificing so much to find her,” adding that the camp’s actions “have only added to our grief.” The Times described emails to families obtained by the newspaper as describing the memorial and reopening plans to past campers and their families.

Camp Mystic officials said they are working with engineers and other experts to implement the changes required under the new legislation. The emails also indicated that the plan includes broader safety enhancements across the two sites, along with ongoing memorialization activities that would be integrated into the reopened campus culture. The camp’s leadership acknowledged the gravity of the loss and stressed a focus on safety and preparedness as a pathway to rebuilding trust with families and former campers. The situation also highlighted the broader debate in Texas over how to prepare for extreme weather events and protect facilities designed for youth programs in flood-prone regions.

As part of the post-disaster framework, the state is directing funds toward enhanced weather forecasting, clearer warning systems, and community resilience measures to prevent similar tragedies. The Heaven's 27 Safety Act reflects a bipartisan push to codify safety standards for camps and other youth facilities, with an emphasis on avoiding construction in flood zones and ensuring robust emergency action plans are in place before operations resume.

Camp Mystic’s announcement also confirmed that the Guadalupe site remains closed while engineers assess structural repairs and flood mitigation options. Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, which opened in 2020 to serve as a companion location, is slated to reopen next summer under the new safety protocols, with the memorial and safety enhancements integrated into its programming. The delay for Guadalupe underscores the challenges in restoring a facility that experienced extensive flood damage and required significant reconstruction.

The public response to the reopening plan reflects a tension between the desire to honor those who died and the need for transparency in the process. While the emails emphasize a hopeful path forward, families have urged the camp to engage more directly with those affected and to maintain a focus on safety and accountability as a condition for returning to the site. The ongoing search for Cile Steward remains a poignant reminder of the human toll of the disaster, and authorities have continued to coordinate with rescue teams as crews canvass the Guadalupe River corridor for signs of missing campers.

The broader climate and environment implications of the Camp Mystic case center on adapting youth programs to a changing risk landscape. State authorities emphasize that new safety requirements will apply not only to camp operations but to any facility hosting vulnerable populations in flood-prone regions. As communities recover, the case underscores the importance of robust emergency planning, resilient infrastructure, and ongoing oversight to protect participants in outdoor education and recreation activities. The images captured in the aftermath, and the financial commitments attached to the Heaven’s 27 Safety Act, mark a significant moment in how Texas balances development, recreation, and safety in the face of increasing flood risk.