Camp Mystic has announced its plan to reopen next summer with new safety measures after more than two dozen people were killed in floods at the all-girls Texas summer camp earlier this year.
Twenty-seven children and camp counselors died after slow-moving thunderstorms in Kerr County caused the Guadalupe River to flood.
In a message to parents issued Tuesday, the camp said it is preparing for next summer's event at their newer Cypress Lake location, which is "completely independent from the older Guadalupe River camp, with a separate entrance, waterfront, dining hall, office, pavilion, infirmary, playing fields, archery range, stables, chapel, and cabins," according to their website.
The camp said it has taken steps to enhance security at the location, including installing over 100 flood monitoring units along Cypress Lake and 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 said.
Hand-held two-way radios with weather alerts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be added to each cabin, and the camp's internet will be backed up with satellite internet, the camp said. The camp does not allow attendees to have their phones, and cell service at the Guadalupe camp earlier this year was reportedly spotty.
The camp will also add "higher-capacity generators to maintain power in critical areas," like 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 camp said in the message.
The 2026 camp dates start on May 30 and end on Aug. 9, designating 10-day stints for girls of different ages, the camp said. Enrollment has not yet opened.
On the morning of July 4, the Guadalupe River in Kerr County overflowed as a result of consistent rainfall, putting Camp Mystic attendees asleep in their cabins at risk.
“We recognize that returning to Camp Mystic carries both hope and heartache,” the camp acknowledged in the message to parents. “For many of your daughters, this return is not simple, but it is a courageous step in their healing journey.”
The camp is also offering tours of the Cypress Lake location in April where families can ask questions.
