The Texas girls camp where 28 people, including 25 children, died in devastating July 4 flash floods last summer has filed for bankruptcy.
Camp Mystic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at 1 a.m. on June 24 in the Southern District of Texas. Documents showed its total debts exceeded $10 million.
The bankruptcy filing comes days after the Texas Legislature released its investigation findings into what had happened on that deadly night on July 4, 2025. The report showed the camp failed to provide adequate emergency plans and preparations.
The camp had intended to open this summer, but faced public backlash from parents of those who were killed and faced hurdles in trying to obtain its license from the state.
The camp owners, the Eastland family, decided to keep the camp closed in May.
Court documents filed by the camp’s operating entity, Camp Mystic LLC, name Edward Eastland ‒ whose father, co-executive director Dick Eastland, died in the floods ‒ as manager, with the company represented by Dallas-based attorney Martin Sosland of Vartabedian Katz Hester & Haynes LLP.
The Voluntary Petition for Non-Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy estimates the camp has between 1,000 and 5,000 creditors, assets between $1 million and $10 million and liabilities between $10 million and $50 million.
The filing also designates the case as a “complex” Chapter 11 ‒ citing both the $10 million-plus debt and more than 50 parties with an interest in the case.
Three affiliated entities were included in the bankruptcy proceedings:
Camp Mystic is an all-girl summer camp in Kerr County ‒ 80 miles northwest of San Antonio ‒ where 25 young girls, two counselors and the camp’s co-executive director died in the flash floods.
According to the Texas Legislature’s investigation, the camp lacked an emergency plan for handling the flooding that occurred early on July 4 and failed to prepare or evacuate promptly, despite ample opportunity to do so.
Finally, the investigation found that the camp’s reunification efforts and incident management were chaotic.
At 1:18 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, 2025, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch for the area, with activities at Camp Mystic continuing as normal.
At 1:14 a.m. on July 4, the weather service issued a flash flood warning for the area, including Camp Mystic.
Here is a brief overview of the event that the Texas lawmaker’s investigation revealed on the early morning of July 4:
Named the Havens 27, here is the list of the young girls and counselors who died during the floods.
The 28th person killed was the camp’s co-executive director, Dick Eastland.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas.
Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
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