Talk:Camp Mystic

2025 Flooding own page

Due to the heavy reporting and concentration around Camp Mystic - would it beneficial to split off and create a new page to cover the 2025 flooding of the camp? Leaky.Solar (talk) 14:56, 10 July 2025 (UTC)

There is coverage. I created a subtitle at July 2025 Central Texas floods#Camp Mystic flood. There could be more coverage here or there. I plan to add more info and have considered a branch article after I have looked things over. I am in the camp that new stub articles do not necessarily have to be started on every subject; if content can be covered in, as well as benefiting an existing article, there is no need for a new article just to expand Wikipedia.

I keep running across sources (several) that mention the camp owner petitioned and was granted exemptions twice to have the 100-year flood map revised. What remains unclear is whether any of the buildings involved were among those washed away. One source mentioned coming within a few feet, but it seems inquiring minds might want to know. This might, but surely will, be important since several sources discuss lawsuits to include Camp Mystic Flood Tragedy: Lawsuits & Who’s Responsible. That a flood plan was approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services two days before the flood will likely be raised. I didn't see where any of the plan's criteria were implemented in the two days before the floods.

In the aftermath, several camps have visited their emergency and response plans, mentioning this flood as well as the Johnstown floods of 1889, 1936, and 1977. I am pretty sure this will remain of high importance also since the October 12, 2025 intense rain, floods, and landslides across five states in Mexico resulting in 47 deaths. I have so far not seen any lawsuits filed against Natural Fountain Properties, Richard Eastland, or Mystic. It seems Eastland was among the victims.

Seventy-six camps in Texas, eight in Kerr County with some along the Guadalupe River, are accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) but not Camp Mystic at the time. The voluntary program, before accrediting is approved, must comply that "266 industry-established health and safety standards are met" including implimentation of emergency preparedness plans. Would this have made a difference? I am sure plenty of sources have and will weigh in on the subject. -- Otr500 (talk) 20:40, 20 October 2025 (UTC)

Additional information

Flooding has been ongoing for a long time on the Guadalupe River in the "Hill Country". The river has had catastrophic flooding three times: 1932 (36.6 feet), 1987 (28.4 feet), and the flood record of 2025 was 37.52 feet.

On July 17, 1987, the last day at the Pot O' Gold Ranch, flash flooding occurred. 10 children died in a Comfort flood as they were supposedly being evacuated. One was never found, and there was no warning system.

A committee of Texas lawmakers, from the House and Senate, has been formed to investigate and review not only the state's preparation and response but also the surrounding circumstances of the flooding that resulted in 130 to 136 people losing their lives. With the youths from Mystic Camp, there were around 40 children. According to KERANews, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick stated that the committee will focus closely on what happened at Camp Mystic. (CNN on investigative committee)

In the wake of the disaster, Governor Greg Abbott signed sweeping laws to reform safety at camps. Senate Bill 1, the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, and House Bill 1, The Youth Camper Act. Parents of children who died in the flood were present at the Senate chamber for the passing of the bill. Part of the bill deals with camps in floodplains. No camp located in a floodplain will be licensed or the yearly license renewed. This will reportedly affect at least 13 camps in the area.

With the camp advertising the opening of the upper part of the camp for 2026, with the lower section dedicated as a memorial, parents have voiced concerns (CNN). -- Otr500 (talk) 17:34, 21 October 2025 (UTC)

Other news

Several parents have spoken about the catastrophe.

• Childress parents
• Cici Williams Steward.
• Kerr County $7 Million dollar communications system fails after storm. A radio system, provided by Motorola Solutions, failed to perform during flood victim search crews. Issues were coverage shortfalls and compatibility problems. Non-profit company wanted to bid promising more and better coverage, but this was not accepted.
• Camp to reopen
• Camp Mystic plans to reopen after flooding killed 27 people – and one girl’s body has yet to be found
• Grieving Parents Clash With Camp Mystic Over Reopening -- Otr500 (talk) 15:54, 25 October 2025 (UTC)

Reverts

I've just reverted a number of edits made by ~2026-17509-9 and ~2026-18010-8 (obviously the same person) back in January - unencyclopedic language and personal opinions disguised as facts with citations that don't back up the text (mostly glowing descriptions of the camp owner and a general whitewashing of the entire tragedy). They also removed factual content that made the camp look bad. I'll be keeping an eye on the page but I wanted to give other editors a heads up. Neonshuffle (talk) 09:54, 6 February 2026 (UTC)

Keeping Wiki Neutral

Hey, regardless of personal feelings or judgement, we have a duty to keep everything on Wiki Neutral. I recently removed a line that was biased. Another editor added it back. I might be a Wiki newbie, but I learned to edit from Dr. Patrick Michaud, of pmWiki, and I'm a programmer. I have a passion for keeping the Camp Mystic page Neutral and I will not be going away anytime soon. For this reason, I'm removing the sentence again. It's not factual, it's not neutral. Some of the sources quoted aren't reliable such as The Guardian. I'll be editing this page more in the next few months. Thank You Hillcountry528 (talk) 16:02, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

Correction, I'll edit it after I review the information with an attorney close to the case. Hillcountry528 (talk) 16:18, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

The Guardian is considered a reliable source. See: Wikipedia:Reliable_sources/Perennial_sources. Mvolz (talk) 06:51, 21 April 2026 (UTC)