Texas health regulators told Camp Mystic's owners Tuesday they are investigating hundreds of complaints following last year's devastating floods that killed 27 girls, as the state considers whether to allow the all-girls camp to reopen this summer.
The Texas Rangers are also helping look into allegations of neglect, according to the Texas Department of Safety, although the scope of the state's elite investigations unit was not immediately clear. The investigations underscore the hurdles facing Camp Mystic as it pushes ahead with reopening plans over the outrage of the families of the 25 girls and two teenage counselors who died in the July 4 floods.
What the Right Is Saying
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican, called the Texas Rangers' involvement a criminal investigation and said the state should not grant the camp a license to reopen until that probe and another one by state lawmakers are complete. In a letter Tuesday to the head of the Texas Department of State Health Services, Patrick wrote: 'I urge you to prioritize safety and do everything in your power to ensure Camp Mystic and/or their operators are not allowed to operate until the facts are in.'
Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls camp, has defended its actions. In a statement Wednesday, the camp said it has cooperated with every investigative request received, including from lawmakers. The camp said it worked closely with the Texas Rangers immediately after the floods and would continue to do so. 'We look forward to cooperating with the Texas Rangers and supporting them in their efforts to gain a thorough and accurate understanding of what happened on the South Fork of the Guadalupe River during the early hours of July 4,' the camp said.
What the Left Is Saying
Families of the victims and their legal representatives have been outspoken in their criticism of Camp Mystic's handling of the flood emergency. Several families have filed lawsuits alleging camp officials failed to take necessary steps to protect campers as life-threatening floodwaters approached.
Texas House lawmakers have also launched their own investigation into the tragedy. Families and their advocates have called for a thorough examination of the camp's emergency protocols before any decision is made on reopening.
What the Numbers Show
The Department of State Health Services said since February it has received hundreds of complaints regarding Camp Mystic's operations in the summer of 2025, alleging violations of state laws governing youth camps. More than 850 families have signed up to return to the camp this summer if it is allowed to reopen a portion of the facility that did not flood.
The July 4 flooding killed at least 136 people along a several-mile stretch of the South Fork of the Guadalupe River. The river rose from 14 feet to 29.5 feet within 60 minutes before dawn, overwhelming the camp. One victim, 8-year-old Cile Steward, has not yet been recovered.
A district judge last month ordered the camp owners to preserve damaged cabins and other parts of the grounds in the flooded area as lawsuits proceed.
The Bottom Line
The investigation into hundreds of complaints adds another layer of complexity to Camp Mystic's bid to reopen. Texas state regulators must weigh public safety concerns against the camp's history and the wishes of families who want to return. Lt. Gov. Patrick has urged the health agency not to grant a license until both the Texas Rangers criminal investigation and the legislative probe are complete. The camp maintains it has cooperated fully with all investigators and looks forward to continuing that cooperation as the state reviews its license application.