Camp Mystic Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Amid Legal and Public Pressure

Camp Mystic, a Christian camp for girls on the Guadalupe River in Texas, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization nearly a year after a severe flood tragedy. This disaster led to the deaths of 25 campers and two teenage counselors. The camp has faced mounting pressure since the July 4 incident. Originally planning to reopen for its 100th anniversary, the owners reversed the decision in April due to outrage from victims’ families and lawmakers.

Lawsuits have been filed by the victims’ families alleging the camp’s negligence in safeguarding the girls during the flood. Tragically, the camp owner, Richard Eastland, also perished in the flood. The bankruptcy filing, submitted in federal court in Houston, revealed the camp’s debt exceeds $10 million. No response has been received from the camp’s attorney regarding this matter.

“Bankruptcy will not stop all responsible parties from being held accountable,” stated Paul Yetter, a lawyer for several families affected by the tragedy. “These innocent girls deserve justice.”

For generations, Camp Mystic provided a summer retreat for families, offering activities such as horse riding, canoeing, fishing, and Bible studies. However, the flood catastrophe, which killed at least 136 people in the region, has raised significant concerns about the camp’s safety measures.

Post-tragedy, the Eastland family initially worked to reopen the camp, citing new safety enhancements like flood warning monitors and two-way radios with weather alert capabilities in cabins. Camp Mystic aimed to accommodate nearly 900 campers. Despite these assurances, victims’ families and several Texas lawmakers remained unconvinced. State regulators identified numerous deficiencies in the camp’s emergency operations plan, specifically in flood warning evacuation and staff training protocols.

The decision to not reopen followed intense court hearings and legislative investigations, which exposed the camp’s inadequate flood emergency planning and poorly trained staff. Families of the victims, many wearing “Heaven’s 27” pins, attended the hearings. They heard about overlooked flood warnings, chaotic evacuation plans, and a tragic video showing a girl screaming for help amidst the floodwaters.

Before halting the reopening, Camp Mystic invited journalists and lawmakers to assess the camp’s new safety features, promising that no future activities would occur in the flood-devastated areas. The Eastland family asserted that many families were eager for the camp to resume operations.

McCormack contributed additional reporting from Concord, New Hampshire.