Camp Mystic, a Texas summer camp, announced on April 30, 2026, that it has withdrawn its state operating license application, meaning the facility will not reopen this summer. The decision came after sustained opposition and pressure from the families of 28 people who died at the camp during devastating floods.

Background

In 2025, catastrophic flooding swept through Texas, with the Camp Mystic area being among the hardest hit. The disaster claimed 28 lives, most of them campers, sending shockwaves and grief across the nation.

Reopening Plans Meet Resistance

In the aftermath of the floods, Camp Mystic’s management had made plans to eventually reopen the camp. However, these plans faced fierce opposition from victims’ families. The families argued that reopening the site would be disrespectful to the deceased and could cause secondary psychological trauma to both survivors and the families of those who perished.

License Application Withdrawn

According to KUT (Austin), Camp Mystic has formally withdrawn its operating license application from Texas state authorities. This means the camp will not resume operations at least through the summer season.

The New York Times reported that victims’ families organized sustained protest campaigns demanding the permanent closure of the camp. They argued that the reopening plans failed to acknowledge the severity of the tragedy and the pain endured by the families.

Community Impact

Camp Mystic was a historic girls’ summer camp in Texas with deep emotional ties to the local community. The decision has generated mixed reactions: on one hand, victims’ families and their supporters welcomed the outcome; on the other hand, some community members expressed regret at the camp’s closure.

CNN reported that while the camp will not open this summer, management has not ruled out the possibility of reopening at a different location in the future. However, victims’ families continue to call for the camp to be permanently shuttered.

Source: The New York Times · KUT · Austin American-Statesman · CNN