Camp Mystic, the all-girls Christian summer camp in Hunt, Texas, filed for bankruptcy protection Wednesday, roughly a year after flooding on July 4 killed 27 people — including 25 girls and two teenage counselors — when the Guadalupe River crested at more than 37 feet during catastrophic Hill Country flooding.
What Happened
Four members of the Eastland family, which owns the camp, signed the eight-page bankruptcy petition. The filing lists total debts between $10 million and $50 million and total assets between $1 million and $10 million, indicating the camp’s liabilities substantially exceed what it holds.
Camp Mystic officials, in a statement accompanying the filing, said the camp was stepping back out of deference to the families of those who died. “Respect for those voices requires that we step back now,” officials said.
Background on the Disaster
State investigators released a 115-page report sharply critical of the camp’s handling of the emergency. The report cited failures in advance planning, storm preparation, evacuation execution, and overall incident management during the July 4 flood event. Only three individuals — the camp owner, his son, and a security guard — were identified as having managed the evacuation.
The camp had sought permission to reopen but withdrew its application in late April, one day after a legislative hearing that parents of the deceased girls attended. The withdrawal drew immediate attention, given its timing.
By the Numbers
- 27 total deaths — 25 campers and 2 teenage counselors
- 37 feet: Guadalupe River flood peak
- $10M–$50M: declared liabilities in the filing
- $1M–$10M: declared assets
- 115 pages: length of the state investigative report
What’s Next
The bankruptcy filing does not resolve questions of civil or criminal liability. Families of those killed have been vocal in demanding accountability, including appearing at the legislative hearing that preceded the camp’s decision to abandon its reopening bid. The state investigation’s findings are likely to factor heavily in any litigation that proceeds. With assets far below stated debts, creditors and claimants face a contested process for recovering damages.
The disaster and its aftermath have drawn sustained attention in Texas, where lawmakers and state agencies have faced pressure to review safety standards and emergency planning requirements for youth camps operating in flood-prone areas. For more on developments in Texas policy and government, see Texas STAAR Results Show Scattered Math Gains but Reading Progress Remains Stalled.