"UAB's top priority remains the safety and well-being of all of our students.”
Camp Mystic announced that it will reopen for the summer of 2026 with new safety measures after 27 people were killed in floods at the Texas summer camp during the 2025 season.
The camp issued a message to parents on Tuesday, December 2 explaining that they were preparing for next summer’s event at their newer Cypress Lake location.
The message, which was shared on the camp’s website, noted that the location is “completely independent from the older Guadalupe River camp” where the flooding incident took place. The Cypress Lake location has a “separate entrance, waterfront, dining hall, office, pavilion, infirmary, playing fields, archery range, stables, chapel, and cabins.”
Additionally, the camp told parents that they have taken several steps to enhance security at the location to prevent flooding incidents. They shared that over 100 flood monitoring units have been installed along Cypress Lake, as well as along the South and North forks of the Guadalupe River.
“The system will provide early detection of high-water events, as it communicates for miles with other sensors using LoRaWAN (low-range wide-area network) technology, allowing campers, counselors and staff to respond and quickly and safely evacuate to an elevated muster station,” the camp explained.
Another way the camp is improving safety is by adding hand-held two-way radios with weather alerts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to each cabin.
The camp also added “higher-capacity generators to maintain power in critical areas,” which include the office and dining hall.
“These enhancements will also help us maintain communication with emergency personnel and parents in the event of an emergency,” the message continued, adding that the camp’s internet will be more reliable now that it’s been backed up with satellite internet.
Camp Mystic will open for the 2026 season on May 30 and it is scheduled to end on August 9. The camp offers 10-day stints for girls of different ages.
The camp previously made headlines in July when the Guadalupe River in Kerr County overflowed due to consistent rainfall. Camp Mystic were put at risk, while 27 of the campers and counselors tragically died at the camp. Meanwhile, more than 100 people died in the surrounding area overall due to the floods.
The camp also made sure to acknowledge the mixed feelings that likely come with new and returning campers spending time at the venue in the upcoming summer. “We recognize that returning to Camp Mystic carries both hope and heartache,” the message read. “For many of your daughters, this return is not simple, but it is a courageous step in their healing journey.”
