Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is urging state health officials not to renew the summer operating license for Camp Mystic until ongoing investigations into last year’s deadly flood are completed and safety changes are made.
In a letter sent Monday to Jennifer Shuford, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Patrick called for caution following the July 4 tragedy that claimed the lives of 25 campers, two counselors, and the camp’s executive director. He emphasized that reopening the camp without a full understanding of what went wrong could pose continued risks.
The request comes as legal and political scrutiny intensifies around the Central Texas summer camp, where sudden flooding along the Guadalupe River overwhelmed parts of the property in the early morning hours of Independence Day. According to court filings, staff were only able to evacuate five of 11 cabins in a low-lying area known as “the flats,” despite what plaintiffs allege was sufficient time to move all occupants to safety.
Patrick’s letter was made public on social media shortly after families of several victims filed a federal lawsuit against DSHS officials. The suit claims the state failed to ensure Camp Mystic had a compliant evacuation plan when issuing its license. Texas regulations require youth camps to maintain disaster preparedness plans that include evacuation procedures, yet plaintiffs argue the camp’s written emergency instructions directed campers to remain in their cabins during floods.
DSHS has declined public comment, citing the pending litigation.
The camp’s current license is valid through early March, with a renewal application deadline later that month. In the meantime, Camp Mystic has announced plans to reopen a separate facility at its Cypress Lake property, which it describes as operationally independent from the historic riverfront site where most of the fatalities occurred.
Attorneys representing some victims’ families have challenged those plans in court. The family of one missing camper has also filed suit seeking to halt reopening efforts.
Camp Mystic’s legal counsel has argued that the Cypress Lake property meets all state requirements and was not significantly affected by last year’s flood. He also noted that Patrick had been invited to visit the camp to gain a clearer understanding of the events leading up to the disaster.
The tragedy resulted in 27 deaths overall, including owner and executive director Dick Eastland, who died while attempting to evacuate campers.
State lawmakers are expected to examine the incident further in upcoming committee hearings this spring. Patrick indicated that legislative review could lead to additional safety requirements and structural changes before operations resume.
Not all state leaders agree with his approach. State Representative Wes Virdell of Brady, whose district includes Kerrville near the camp, criticized the call to delay licensing. He suggested that recent legislative actions imposing stricter camp safety standards were influenced by political forces seeking to close Camp Mystic.
The lawsuit filed Monday names six DSHS officials, including Shuford, and alleges systemic failures in oversight. Plaintiffs argue that inspectors documented the presence of a disaster plan but did not verify whether it included evacuation procedures, which they say violated both state law and the agency’s protective responsibilities.
Testimony from a DSHS deputy commissioner following the flood indicated that the agency’s review process confirmed the existence of emergency plans but did not assess their completeness.
In response to the disaster, new state laws passed last year now require youth camps to clearly designate evacuation destinations, post routes inside cabins, and ensure those routes are visible at night. The agency has also proposed increasing licensing fees for camps.
As investigations continue and legal proceedings move forward, the future of Camp Mystic’s summer operations remains uncertain. State officials must weigh regulatory authority, public safety concerns, and the outcome of multiple inquiries before deciding whether the camp will be permitted to reopen for the 2026 season.
