Camp Mystic Texas Flood Camp Files For Chapter 11 After 28 Deaths
Camp Mystic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston on Wednesday, listing more than $10 million in debts and only $100,001 to $500,000 in assets.[1]
The petition lists between 1,000 and 5,000 unsecured creditors and names four affiliated entities tied to the camp.[1] Edward S. Eastland is listed as the camp's authorized representative, and the filing says the LLC has not sought bankruptcy in the last eight years.[1]
On July 4, 2025, flash floods on the Guadalupe River overwhelmed cabins at Camp Mystic and killed 28 people — 25 campers, two teenage counselors and camp director Dick Eastland.[1] A joint Texas House and Senate investigative report found the camp lacked state-compliant written emergency plans, did not adequately prepare for the storm and failed to evacuate in a timely way, and it described chaotic reunification that traumatized families.[1] Families of victims filed wrongful-death lawsuits in November 2025 seeking more than $1 million in damages.[2]
Camp Mystic withdrew its application to reopen for summer 2026 after an April legislative hearing that sharply criticized its evacuation planning.[1] The Texas Board of Nursing approved a disciplinary order on May 19, 2026, that temporarily suspended and limited the camp's chief health officer's license after findings she failed to call 911 when people were missing and failed to report deaths within 24 hours.[1] Lawmakers passed new safety rules for youth camps after the tragedy, including a requirement for fiber-optic internet, and only a small number of camps had received licenses for summer 2026 under the new law.[1]
The Chapter 11 filing allows the camp to seek reorganization while numerous lawsuits and regulatory actions move forward, and it transfers dispute resolution into federal bankruptcy court even as families and lawmakers continue to press for accountability.[3]
The mainstream summary does not mention that Camp Mystic was hosting approximately 750 campers at the time of the July 2025 flooding, highlighting the scale of the tragedy and the potential for even greater loss of life. Additionally, it omits critical details about the camp's location in a FEMA-designated flood hazard area, where multiple buildings had previously been mapped in the 100-year floodplain before some were removed from the designation. This context raises questions about the adequacy of the camp's emergency preparedness and compliance with safety regulations, which are required for youth camps in Texas.
While the mainstream account emphasizes the bankruptcy filing and the camp's debts, it downplays the broader implications of the tragedy on regulatory practices. Observers note that the findings from the Texas House and Senate report on inadequate emergency planning were a key factor leading to the Chapter 11 filing, suggesting systemic issues in floodplain management and emergency preparedness for temporary recreational uses. This perspective indicates that the camp's financial struggles may be part of a larger trend affecting youth and recreational organizations facing increasing vulnerability to natural disasters, as highlighted by research on nonprofit financial resilience after disasters.[4][5][6]
Show source details & analysis (3 sources)
📊 Relevant Data
Camp Mystic was hosting approximately 750 campers when the July 2025 flooding occurred.
Camp Mystic — Wikipedia
Camp Mystic is located along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, in an area designated by FEMA as a special flood hazard area, with multiple buildings previously mapped in the 100-year floodplain before appeals removed some structures from the designation.
FEMA removed dozens of Camp Mystic buildings from 100-year flood map — ABC7
Texas youth camps are required to submit annual emergency plans to the Department of State Health Services for approval as part of licensing.
Youth Camp Guidance, Clarifications, and FAQs — Texas DSHS
📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Camp Mystic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston, listing debts of more than $10 million and assets between $100,001 and $500,000.
- The bankruptcy petition lists between 1,000 and 5,000 unsecured creditors and identifies four affiliated entities — Camp Mystic LLC, Natural Fountains Properties Inc., Mystic Camps Family Partnership Ltd. and Mystic Camps Management LLC.
- Edward S. Eastland is listed as the camp’s authorized representative on the petition, and the filing states the LLC has not filed for bankruptcy in the last eight years.
- A recent investigative report to a joint Texas House and Senate committee concluded Camp Mystic lacked state‑compliant written emergency plans, failed to adequately prepare for the July 4, 2025 storm and did not evacuate in a timely manner; investigators also found chaotic reunification and incident management that traumatized families of the 28 people who died (27 girls — 25 campers and two counselors — and camp director Dick Eastland).
- The Texas Board of Nursing approved a disciplinary order on May 19, 2026 in which camp chief health officer Mary Elizabeth Eastland agreed to a temporary suspension and limits on her license after findings she failed to ensure adequate emergency procedures, failed to call 911 when campers and staff were reported missing, and failed to report deaths within 24 hours; the order also alleges nurses administered medications under inadequate standing orders between March and July 2025.
- Camp Mystic withdrew its application for a summer 2026 license after an April 2026 legislative hearing, and post‑tragedy legislation imposed new safety requirements on camps — including a mandate for fiber‑optic internet — with Rep. Wes Virdell saying only about nine of roughly 300 camps had been approved for a summer 2026 license under the new law.
- Families of victims filed a November 2025 lawsuit seeking more than $1 million in damages, alleging the camp failed to protect the girls as life‑threatening floodwaters approached.
- The Associated Press account cited in coverage includes vivid hearing testimony and video of raging floodwaters with a girl screaming for help, and notes families wore “Heaven’s 27” pins with photos of their daughters.
- The July 4, 2025 Guadalupe River flooding killed people along a several‑mile stretch of the river, with the Associated Press reporting at least 136 deaths that included 25 girls, two teenage counselors and camp owner Richard Eastland.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Camp Mystic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.
- The bankruptcy paperwork lists Camp Mystic’s debt as more than $10 million and its assets in the range of $100,001 to $500,000.
- The Associated Press reports that the July 4, 2025 Guadalupe River flooding killed at least 136 people along a several‑mile stretch of the river, including 25 girls, two teenage counselors, and camp owner Richard Eastland from Camp Mystic.
- The article reiterates that families of victims filed a November 2025 lawsuit seeking more than $1 million in damages, alleging the camp failed to protect the girls as life‑threatening floodwaters approached.
- The report details that Camp Mystic’s decision to halt plans to reopen for summer 2026 came after weeks of legislative and court testimony exposing a lack of detailed flood‑emergency planning and reliance on poorly trained staff, with families and lawmakers expressing outrage.
- The AP account adds vivid testimony from hearings, including video of raging floodwaters with a girl screaming for help, and notes families wore 'Heaven’s 27' pins with photos of their daughters.
- On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Camp Mystic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston, listing debts exceeding $10 million and assets between $100,001 and $500,000.
- The filing lists between 1,000 and 5,000 unsecured creditors and notes four affiliated entities: Camp Mystic LLC, Natural Fountains Properties Inc., Mystic Camps Family Partnership Ltd., and Mystic Camps Management LLC.
- The camp’s authorized representative on the petition is Edward S. Eastland, a member of the family that owns the camp; the filing states the LLC has not filed for bankruptcy in the last eight years.
- A recent investigative report to a joint Texas House and Senate committee concluded Camp Mystic lacked state‑compliant written emergency plans, failed to adequately prepare for the July 4, 2025 storm, and did not evacuate in a timely manner despite ample opportunity.
- Investigators also found reunification and incident management after the flood were chaotic and had traumatic effects on families of the 28 people who died, including 27 girls (25 campers and two counselors) and camp director Dick Eastland.
- Camp Mystic withdrew its application for a summer 2026 license after an April 2026 legislative hearing where lawmakers sharply criticized its evacuation planning.
- Camp chief health officer Mary Elizabeth Eastland agreed to a Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary order approved May 19, 2026, which temporarily suspended and then limited her license after findings that she failed to ensure adequate emergency procedures, failed to call 911 when campers and staff were reported missing, and failed to report deaths within 24 hours.
- The nursing board order also alleges she allowed camp nurses to administer medications under inadequate standing orders between March and July 2025, creating an unsafe environment that likely contributed to physical, emotional and psychological harm and loss of life.
- Texas lawmakers passed post‑tragedy legislation imposing new safety requirements on summer camps, including a mandate for fiber‑optic internet connections, and Rep. Wes Virdell said only about nine of roughly 300 camps had been approved for a license for summer 2026 because of the new law.