State Officials Notify Camp Mystic of Potential Licensing Denial

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has formally notified Camp Mystic that its application for an operating license for the 2026 season may be denied. This development follows the devastating July 2025 flood that claimed 27 lives and comes as the camp approaches what would have been its centennial summer.

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Key Safety Deficiencies

In a letter dated April 23, 2026, state regulators identified 22 distinct areas where the camp’s safety and emergency protocols failed to meet state standards. Primary concerns include:

• Inadequate Evacuation Plans: Emergency response documentation was labeled “incomplete or missing.”
• Floodplain Mapping: Documentation failed to clearly identify the proximity of cabins to high-risk floodways.
• Legislative Compliance: The camp has not yet met the heightened safety requirements passed by the Texas Legislature in the wake of last year’s tragedy.

The Path Forward

Camp leadership has been granted a 45-day window to address these safety violations and resubmit their plan. While the camp proposed a “partial reopening” on higher ground (the Cypress Lake area), the DSHS maintains that the license for the entire facility is contingent on these corrections.

Ongoing Scrutiny

The licensing delay occurs amidst several parallel investigations:

• The Texas Rangers are currently reviewing hundreds of complaints related to child safety and care at the facility.
• Political Response: High-ranking state officials, including the Lieutenant Governor, have publicly urged the state to withhold the license until all investigations are finalized.
• Legal Holds: A court order remains in place requiring the camp to preserve the original flood-damaged site as evidence for ongoing litigation, effectively halting any reconstruction in those areas.