Camp Mystic, the Christian summer camp in Texas where 28 people died in a catastrophic flood in July 2025, has filed for bankruptcy, according to court records. The Chapter 11 filing, submitted Wednesday in the southern district of Texas, reveals that the camp's total debt exceeds $10 million. The filing comes months after the camp halted plans to reopen this summer, facing mounting outrage and criticism from victims' families and state officials.
Details of the Tragedy
The devastating flood on 4 July 2025 killed 25 campers, two teenage counselors, and the camp's owner, Dick Eastland. Since the disaster, Camp Mystic and its owners have faced intense scrutiny over their response. State investigators released a report earlier this month detailing their initial findings, which concluded that the camp did not provide adequate training for staff in emergency situations and lacked advanced emergency planning. According to the report, at least 39 adults were present at the camp, in addition to teenage counselors, who could have assisted with an orderly flood evacuation, but there was no plan for them to do so, and no training to prepare them.
Lawsuits and Allegations
Several families of victims have filed lawsuits against the camp and the Eastland family, accusing them of gross negligence. Multiple lawsuits describe the tragedy as entirely preventable and allege that camp leaders ignored known flood risks, failed to implement adequate safety procedures, and failed to protect campers and counselors. One lawsuit, filed on behalf of the families of five campers and two counselors who died, accuses the camp of putting profit over safety and alleges that it chose to house campers in cabins in flood-prone areas to avoid the cost of relocating the cabins.
Legal and Regulatory Actions
Earlier this year, a Texas judge ordered camp leaders to preserve the damaged cabins and land affected by the flooding while litigation continues. The camp's attorney issued a statement last year expressing empathy with the families and stating that they intend to demonstrate that the flood waters far exceeded any previous flood in the area, were unexpected, and that no adequate warning systems existed. The attorney also disagreed with several accusations and misinformation in legal filings, noting that Dick Eastland lost his life as well, and promised to respond thoroughly in due course.
