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Camp Mystic to Reopen Cypress Lake in Summer 2026 With New Safety Plan After Deadly Floods

Camp Mystic will reopen its Cypress Lake campus for Summer 2026, offering 10-day sessions from May 30 to Aug. 9, with tours scheduled for April and enrollment not yet open. The camp says Cypress Lake is entirely separate from the closed Guadalupe River site and lists a number of new safety measures, including 100 flood-monitoring units, NOAA handheld radios in each cabin and higher-capacity generators. Several families have filed lawsuits alleging failures in evacuation and emergency response after the July 4 floods that killed 25 campers, two counselors and the executive director. Investigations and legal proceedings are ongoing.

10:01 PM, 12/03/2025Society
Camp Mystic to Reopen Cypress Lake in Summer 2026 With New Safety Plan After Deadly Floods

Camp Mystic will reopen its Cypress Lake campus for the summer 2026 season after the July 4 flash floods that killed 25 campers, two counselors and the camp's executive director.

In a Dec. 2 statement to families, the all-girls Texas camp said Cypress Lake — described as entirely separate from the older Guadalupe River site — will host 10-day sessions from May 30 through Aug. 9, 2026. Enrollment has not yet opened; guided tours of the Cypress Lake property will be offered in April.

The camp emphasized that Cypress Lake has an independent entrance, waterfront, dining hall, office, pavilion, infirmary, playing fields, archery range, stables, chapel and cabins. The Guadalupe River campus will remain closed while investigations and legal actions continue.

New safety measures

Camp Mystic says it has implemented a series of safety upgrades designed to improve early warning and emergency response: 100 flood-monitoring units across both properties that use a low-range wide-area network to detect rapidly rising water and trigger evacuation protocols; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) handheld two-way radios in every cabin to provide real-time weather alerts; and higher-capacity generators to keep critical facilities — such as the dining hall and infirmary — powered during outages. The camp also described an elevated muster station and enhanced communication procedures to coordinate with parents and emergency responders.

Tragedy and legal action

The July 4 disaster occurred when the Guadalupe River flooded the campsite after severe thunderstorms in Kerr County. The victims included 25 campers, counselors Chloe Childress and Katherine Ferruzzo, and executive director Richard "Dick" Eastland. A memorial to honor those lost is planned.

Several families have filed lawsuits alleging the camp failed to evacuate campers promptly and that staff prioritized securing equipment over immediate safety. Complaints assert that some cabins were not moved to higher ground and describe a delayed rescue effort. Additional legal actions have been filed and remain pending.

What to expect next

Camp leadership says reopening Cypress Lake is intended to support healing for returning families while ensuring stronger safety protocols are in place. The Guadalupe River site will remain closed. Families and former campers with questions are being encouraged to contact camp administrators for details about tours, enrollment timelines and the new safety measures.

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