Camp Mystic, the Texas summer camp where 28 people died during catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River last year, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it faces mounting legal claims and financial pressure stemming from the disaster.
The filing was submitted on Wednesday in federal bankruptcy court in Houston, nearly a year after floodwaters swept through the Christian girls camp in Kerr County on July 4, 2025, killing 25 campers, two teenage counselors, and camp owner Richard “Dick” Eastland.
Court documents show Camp Mystic listed more than $10 million in debt and estimated liabilities between $10 million and $50 million. The filing indicates the camp has between 1,000 and 5,000 creditors and identifies the case as a complex Chapter 11 reorganization.
The bankruptcy filing comes after the camp abandoned plans to reopen for its 100th anniversary this summer following public criticism from victims’ families, lawmakers, and state regulators.
“Bankruptcy will not stop all responsible parties from being held accountable,” attorney Paul Yetter, who represents multiple families of campers and counselors who died in the flood, said in a statement, the Associated Press reported. “These innocent girls deserve justice.”
Flood Disaster Triggered Scrutiny
The July 4, 2025, flooding killed at least 136 people along the Guadalupe River, making it one of the deadliest flood disasters in Texas history.
Camp Mystic suffered some of the heaviest losses. The all-girls camp, located in the Texas Hill Country about 80 miles northwest of San Antonio, became the focus of investigations into whether adequate preparations had been made despite multiple flood warnings.
A recent legislative investigation found the camp lacked a comprehensive emergency plan for the type of flooding that occurred and failed to adequately prepare for or promptly carry out evacuations.
According to the report, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch for the area on the afternoon of July 3, followed by a flash flood warning shortly after 1 a.m. on July 4.
Camp officials began evacuation efforts as water rapidly rose, successfully moving dozens of campers and counselors to safety. However, conditions deteriorated quickly as floodwaters engulfed roads and cabins.
Eastland was attempting to assist campers when he became trapped in rising water. He later died alongside 13 campers and two counselors from the Bubble Inn cabin area. Eleven additional campers from other cabins also died during the flooding.
As of June 18, 2026, one camper, Cile Steward, remained missing.
Reopening Plans Abandoned
In the months following the tragedy, the Eastland family sought to reopen Camp Mystic and invested in safety improvements that included flood-warning river monitors and two-way radios equipped with weather alerts in every cabin.
Camp representatives told lawmakers and journalists earlier this year that the facility was prepared to welcome nearly 900 campers for the summer season.
However, state regulators identified nearly two dozen deficiencies in the camp’s emergency operations plan, including concerns related to flood evacuations and staff training.
The proposed reopening also drew strong opposition from victims’ families, many of whom attended court hearings and legislative proceedings examining the disaster.
The camp ultimately announced in April that it would remain closed for the 2026 season.
Bankruptcy Proceedings Begin
The bankruptcy filing was submitted by Camp Mystic LLC and includes three affiliated entities: Natural Fountains Properties Inc., Mystic Camps Family Partnership Ltd., and Mystic Camps Management LLC.
Edward Eastland, son of the late camp owner and a camp manager, is listed in court documents as overseeing the filing.
Camp Mystic has long been a Texas institution, attracting generations of families to its summer programs that included horseback riding, canoeing, fishing, and Bible studies.
The Chapter 11 filing allows the camp to reorganize its finances while addressing claims from creditors and ongoing litigation related to the flood disaster. Multiple lawsuits filed by victims’ families remain pending.
