Camp Mystic invites lawmakers to tour campsite where 27 girls died in summer flood

Editor's Note: The video above is from KXAN's newscast on Aug. 20, 2025.

HUNT, Texas (Nexstar) -- Camp Mystic sent a letter to Texas lawmakers inviting members of newly formed investigative committees to physically tour their campsite, saying it "is the best and only way to learn exactly what happened" in the early hours of July 4.

The letter, sent to lawmakers last week, is signed by members of the Eastland family who own the Texas Hill Country camp. The camp is located along the banks of the Guadalupe River, which experienced a historic flood on Independence Day. The floodwaters rushed through the camp and lead to the death of 27 girls who were at the camp, including Dick Eastland, the co-owner and director of the camp.

Texas leaders announced earlier this month the creation of two investigative committees tasked with examining the factors that lead to the death of the young campers. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in the announcement that he was "shocked to see Camp Mystic begin signing up campers for next year with so many questions unanswered about what happened that fateful morning.” Leaders said Camp Mystic would be invited to testify in front of the committees.

Campy Mystic said it supports the efforts by the state legislature to make camps along the Guadalupe River safer. "Essential for those efforts is a thorough and accurate understanding of what happened on the South Fork of the Guadalupe River during the early hours of July 4," the camp wrote in its letter.

Currently there is no scheduled hearing for the new general investigating committees.