Patrick seeks to block Camp Mystic summer reopening pending flood inquiry

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick urged the state to block Camp Mystic’s summer reopening Monday, saying it would be “naive” to allow the troubled youth camp to resume normal operations before a full investigation into last July’s flood deaths. Twenty-eight people died in the disaster — 25 campers, two counselors, and the camp’s executive director — according to lawsuits filed the same day.

“It would be naive to allow Camp Mystic to return to normal operations before all of the facts are known,” Patrick wrote in a letter to Department of State Health Services Commissioner Jennifer Shuford. “Camp Mystic should have decided on their own to suspend operations this coming summer, but it appears they are planning for camp in 2026.”

The push to keep the camp closed reflects mounting questions about whether state regulators adequately enforced camp safety rules before the July 2025 disaster, as well as evidence that deaths could have been prevented through faster evacuation.

Patrick’s letter came hours after families of Camp Mystic flood victims filed a federal lawsuit alleging that state health officials failed to ensure the camp had a proper evacuation plan in violation of Texas law.

According to the lawsuit, Camp Mystic’s emergency instructions directed children to stay in their cabins during floods — directly contradicting Texas regulations requiring youth camps to have evacuation plans for disasters. The camp is located in what the lawsuit describes as “flash flood alley” near the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country.

“Young campers and counselors were killed because the camp had no plan,” the lawsuit states. “The camp is responsible, but so are the state officials who helped create this inexcusable risk to life by directing and executing a policy of non-compliance with Texas law.”

The lawsuit names six Department of State Health Services officials, including Commissioner Shuford and others overseeing the youth camp program. The families, represented by attorney Paul Yetter, are seeking damages and other relief. A DSHS spokesperson said the agency does not comment on pending litigation.

What Happened on July 4

On July 4, heavy rain sent the Guadalupe River surging into the historic Central Texas camp. Staff managed to evacuate only five of 11 cabins in an area called “the flats” — even though, according to the lawsuit, there was sufficient time to evacuate everyone. Most of the girls who died were in two cabins built near the river.

Camp owner and executive director Dick Eastland died while attempting to evacuate one of the cabins.

How Regulatory Oversight Failed

The lawsuit alleges that state inspectors overlooked evacuation deficiencies. A DSHS inspector, Maricela Zamarripa, reported a year before the flood that the camp had a written disaster plan. She visited the property again two days before the July 4 disaster and filed a report after the flood restating that the camp had the necessary plan — without noting that the plan lacked the required evacuation component.

“The DSHS officials responsible for licensing youth camps deliberately looked the other way,” Yetter said. “While Camp Mystic bears responsibility and is also being sued, state officials knew the camp’s emergency plan lacked a required evacuation component and still licensed the camp as safe.”

Timothy Stevenson, DSHS deputy commissioner for the Consumer Protection Division, testified to state lawmakers after the flood that the agency ensured emergency plans existed but did not verify that they included evacuation procedures — an approach the families contend violated both state law and the agency’s duty of care.

Patrick’s Push for Investigation

In his letter, Patrick said special legislative committees will meet this spring to investigate the deaths and signaled he expects the camp may need to make changes to ensure camper and counselor safety. He said he would not feel comfortable taking his own grandchildren there while important questions remain unanswered.

Patrick urged Commissioner Shuford not to renew the camp’s license until the legislative investigation concludes “and any necessary corrective actions are taken.”

The camp’s current license is valid until March 6. A DSHS spokesperson said Camp Mystic has until March 31 to apply for renewal with no late fee, giving the agency time to review the application before summer operations would begin.

Camp Defends Reopening Plans

Camp Mystic has said it plans to reopen its Cypress Lake property, which the camp’s website describes as independent from the Guadalupe River location where the July 4 deaths occurred. The company said the Cypress Lake facility was not significantly damaged in the flood and is located on a separate property.

Mikal Watts, Camp Mystic’s attorney, said in an email to The Texas Tribune that the state lacks regulatory basis to deny a license for the Cypress Lake facility, which he said is in compliance with state law. He said Patrick had not responded to an invitation to visit the camp to better understand what happened.

State Rep. Wes Virdell, R-Brady, who represents the Camp Mystic area, pushed back on Patrick’s letter on social media Monday afternoon. During debate on one of two new state laws creating increased safety requirements for camps, Virdell had expressed concerns about restrictions causing unnecessary camp closures.

“I have strong concerns that the Kerrville area and camps won’t get a fair investigation if this is the position of the Lt. Governor,” Virdell wrote. He said the new bill was designed to shutter Camp Mystic by “very strong political influencers behind the scenes” and characterized Patrick’s letter as “another route” from those same people to close the camp.