Overview

• In letters sent this week, the Eastland family said the undamaged Camp Mystic Cypress Lake will open for summer 2026 while the Guadalupe River site remains closed due to catastrophic damage.
• The camp plans to dedicate a memorial to the 25 campers and two counselors who died, with the tribute intended to open alongside the 2026 session.
• Parents of victims publicly opposed the reopening and memorial plans, saying they were not consulted and calling the decision premature while recovery teams continue searching for Cile Steward.
• Camp leaders said they will implement changes to meet newly enacted Texas camp-safety laws that ban cabins in high-risk flood areas and require detailed emergency plans, staff training, and warning systems.
• The July 4 disaster killed 27 at the Guadalupe River campus after fast-rising water inundated low-lying cabins, intensifying scrutiny of the camp’s preparedness and previous flood guidance.