Camp Mystic reopening for summer 2026

[Anonymous]

They are NOT opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if the shrieking harpy in here actually knew the families who send their kids to this camp they would rethink their very vocal stance. These extremely wealthy, right wing religious families don't spend a second of their day worrying about random elderly women in Virginia or thereabouts. Their kids will just go to another camp if it doesn't work out.

You’re dead wrong! We knew several children at that camp in that flood. One was a friend of my daughter’s a classmate. Their families care very much about others. These are not right wing people at all. Some are slightly right of center, some slightly left - none on the wings - ZERO! And they all care about others. Many families are still grieving, including mine. You should have compassion, especially as you are making assumptions about the compassion of others.

Be honest. The camp took a serious religious turn recently. These people are my friends, neighbors, and my kid's classmates.

They’re religious- true. It’s always been a religious camp. Are you saying religious people don’t deserve compassion if their children die? Are you saying religious people all had right political affiliations that don’t align with yours, therefore they don’t deserve compassion?

I'm saying their religion is a huge reason why they want to return to camp and that's why people here are struggling to understand their motivation. They have completely different world views. The returning campers aren't asking for anything from the people here, certainly not their compassion. I know returning campers and I certainly don't question them or discuss it with them. We are not the same, but it's their decision to make.

It doesn’t matter why anyone does or does not want to return. It’s not their decision as to whether or not the camp should be allowed to reopen as a public service business under current ownership.

It definitely matters why in the world people would want to return under these circumstances.

Why do you need to know this? How does that affect your life?

It’s very interesting!

So using their experience navigating their personal trauma for your entertainment. Gross.

Who turned this into a spectacle? Ask yourself that?

[Anonymous]

The crazy part is, even after all of the data and sworn testimony, there are a ton a comments on Texas news social media claiming that none of it was the camp’s fault and nothing possibly could have been done. People acting like the camp is being unfairly “targeted” and did absolutely nothing wrong. And these people believe this from the bottom of their hearts! And that is why we have the current political leadership we do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The crazy part is, even after all of the data and sworn testimony, there are a ton a comments on Texas news social media claiming that none of it was the camp’s fault and nothing possibly could have been done. People acting like the camp is being unfairly “targeted” and did absolutely nothing wrong. And these people believe this from the bottom of their hearts! And that is why we have the current political leadership we do.

There's a difference between believing they did nothing wrong and acknowledging that it was an extraordinary event. It is unlikely that any plan would have addressed the combination of events that occurred without contradictions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not surprised, in watching 1 minute of the hearing the judge said that there were 27 deficiencies still on the application to renew the license. Yikes!

How many did other camps have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not surprised, in watching 1 minute of the hearing the judge said that there were 27 deficiencies still on the application to renew the license. Yikes!

How many did other camps have?

Not the point. After 27 girls died because of the Eastland’s criminal negligence, you would think their application to renew their license would at the very least, not have even one deficiency! Yet, these cavalier monsters have the gall to not address the deficiencies that caused the deaths of these poor girls. Still no evacuation plan and still not reporting their deaths to the state. Hoping the Eastlands are criminally charged as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The crazy part is, even after all of the data and sworn testimony, there are a ton a comments on Texas news social media claiming that none of it was the camp’s fault and nothing possibly could have been done. People acting like the camp is being unfairly “targeted” and did absolutely nothing wrong. And these people believe this from the bottom of their hearts! And that is why we have the current political leadership we do.

There's a difference between believing they did nothing wrong and acknowledging that it was an extraordinary event. It is unlikely that any plan would have addressed the combination of events that occurred without contradictions.

You clearly didn’t follow any of the sworn testimony. Had they simply had a plan (as they were required by law to have) to evacuate (rather than stay put) the girls could have easily walked 60 seconds up a hill to safety and they’d be alive today. This is not even in dispute, even by camp owners. They were told not to leave their cabins and they obeyed and it cost them their lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not surprised, in watching 1 minute of the hearing the judge said that there were 27 deficiencies still on the application to renew the license. Yikes!

I think they realized they were going to be denied, and it would look better to voluntarily “withdraw” and try to spin it like it was their choice rather than forced upon them. I do not see this camp every reopening, and it it does it will likely be under new owners. But even that I doubt.

I do too, they withdrew because they knew it looked bad and did it to save face

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The crazy part is, even after all of the data and sworn testimony, there are a ton a comments on Texas news social media claiming that none of it was the camp’s fault and nothing possibly could have been done. People acting like the camp is being unfairly “targeted” and did absolutely nothing wrong. And these people believe this from the bottom of their hearts! And that is why we have the current political leadership we do.

There's a difference between believing they did nothing wrong and acknowledging that it was an extraordinary event. It is unlikely that any plan would have addressed the combination of events that occurred without contradictions.

It is insane that anyone thinks this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really seems like a cult. Some of the stuff the Mystic families are posting online is so tone deaf, so selfish and literally crazy. I’m glad they finally caved but what they have put these families through is unforgivable.

I’m from the south and one thing I will say is people in the south get VERY hung up on tradition, particularly ones that signify social class and standing. A lot of people who want Mystic to reopen so they can send their kids are hung up on the idea of Mystic is a special camp experience for upper class Christian girls in Texas, and now MY upper class Christian girl I always dreamed would go to Mystic can’t go to Mystic! But it’s tradition!

I’m a former Mystic camper and I don’t think it should ever reopen.

Also, for all of those bashing Mystic as a MAGA Christian camp, I don’t know when Mystic stared branding itself or being known as a “Christian” camp. In the 80s and 90s, we had optional chapel services on Sunday (I never went nor did most of my cabin mates) but that’s as far as religion went. We weren’t singing Christian camp songs and religion was not the reason anyone attended. My best camp friend was Jewish.

All of the families who sent their daughters to Mystic did so because it was tradition. Religion had nothing to do with it and most of the campers come from blue areas of the state like Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Hardly MAGA. I think one of the Eastland DILs is more hard core Christian and she brought that to the camp more recently and I think most of the parents ignored it or went along with it because they were long-time Mystic families. There are several camps in the state that have a religious focus. The religious people send their kids to those camps. No one sends their kids to Mystic for religion. Also, the brother camp where Mystic families send their boys has no religious affiliation.

I’ve been scratching my head the last year seeing this be about a “Christian” camp. That’s not what it’s ever been known for until the media came in. I would say it’s always been known as a long-standing Texas UC and UMC girls camp, not a Christian camp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if the shrieking harpy in here actually knew the families who send their kids to this camp they would rethink their very vocal stance. These extremely wealthy, right wing religious families don't spend a second of their day worrying about random elderly women in Virginia or thereabouts. Their kids will just go to another camp if it doesn't work out.

You’re dead wrong! We knew several children at that camp in that flood. One was a friend of my daughter’s a classmate. Their families care very much about others. These are not right wing people at all. Some are slightly right of center, some slightly left - none on the wings - ZERO! And they all care about others. Many families are still grieving, including mine. You should have compassion, especially as you are making assumptions about the compassion of others.

Be honest. The camp took a serious religious turn recently. These people are my friends, neighbors, and my kid's classmates.

They’re religious- true. It’s always been a religious camp. Are you saying religious people don’t deserve compassion if their children die? Are you saying religious people all had right political affiliations that don’t align with yours, therefore they don’t deserve compassion?

I'm saying their religion is a huge reason why they want to return to camp and that's why people here are struggling to understand their motivation. They have completely different world views. The returning campers aren't asking for anything from the people here, certainly not their compassion. I know returning campers and I certainly don't question them or discuss it with them. We are not the same, but it's their decision to make.

It doesn’t matter why anyone does or does not want to return. It’s not their decision as to whether or not the camp should be allowed to reopen as a public service business under current ownership.

It definitely matters why in the world people would want to return under these circumstances.

Why do you need to know this? How does that affect your life?

It’s very interesting!

So using their experience navigating their personal trauma for your entertainment. Gross.

Who turned this into a spectacle? Ask yourself that?

On DCUM? The OP of this thread and the posters who are using this tragedy and disparaging the families as some kind of entertainment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if the shrieking harpy in here actually knew the families who send their kids to this camp they would rethink their very vocal stance. These extremely wealthy, right wing religious families don't spend a second of their day worrying about random elderly women in Virginia or thereabouts. Their kids will just go to another camp if it doesn't work out.

You’re dead wrong! We knew several children at that camp in that flood. One was a friend of my daughter’s a classmate. Their families care very much about others. These are not right wing people at all. Some are slightly right of center, some slightly left - none on the wings - ZERO! And they all care about others. Many families are still grieving, including mine. You should have compassion, especially as you are making assumptions about the compassion of others.

Be honest. The camp took a serious religious turn recently. These people are my friends, neighbors, and my kid's classmates.

They’re religious- true. It’s always been a religious camp. Are you saying religious people don’t deserve compassion if their children die? Are you saying religious people all had right political affiliations that don’t align with yours, therefore they don’t deserve compassion?

I'm saying their religion is a huge reason why they want to return to camp and that's why people here are struggling to understand their motivation. They have completely different world views. The returning campers aren't asking for anything from the people here, certainly not their compassion. I know returning campers and I certainly don't question them or discuss it with them. We are not the same, but it's their decision to make.

You keep bringing this up. We are not trying to discuss it with them. We are discussing it amongst ourselves. It is a bizarre, real-world case study in people acting adverse to their own interests.

Again with the ignorance and hubris. You don't have all of the facts. You don't know them. You have not experienced what they went through. You don't know their motivations. Stop judging them and MYOFB.

So funny. Those of us questioning the parents decisions to send their daughters to that camp clearly have more of the facts than you or they do.

No, you don't have more facts than the families who were actually there, FFS. You're mental.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really seems like a cult. Some of the stuff the Mystic families are posting online is so tone deaf, so selfish and literally crazy. I’m glad they finally caved but what they have put these families through is unforgivable.

I’m from the south and one thing I will say is people in the south get VERY hung up on tradition, particularly ones that signify social class and standing. A lot of people who want Mystic to reopen so they can send their kids are hung up on the idea of Mystic is a special camp experience for upper class Christian girls in Texas, and now MY upper class Christian girl I always dreamed would go to Mystic can’t go to Mystic! But it’s tradition!

I’m a former Mystic camper and I don’t think it should ever reopen.

Also, for all of those bashing Mystic as a MAGA Christian camp, I don’t know when Mystic stared branding itself or being known as a “Christian” camp. In the 80s and 90s, we had optional chapel services on Sunday (I never went nor did most of my cabin mates) but that’s as far as religion went. We weren’t singing Christian camp songs and religion was not the reason anyone attended. My best camp friend was Jewish.

All of the families who sent their daughters to Mystic did so because it was tradition. Religion had nothing to do with it and most of the campers come from blue areas of the state like Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Hardly MAGA. I think one of the Eastland DILs is more hard core Christian and she brought that to the camp more recently and I think most of the parents ignored it or went along with it because they were long-time Mystic families. There are several camps in the state that have a religious focus. The religious people send their kids to those camps. No one sends their kids to Mystic for religion. Also, the brother camp where Mystic families send their boys has no religious affiliation.

I’ve been scratching my head the last year seeing this be about a “Christian” camp. That’s not what it’s ever been known for until the media came in. I would say it’s always been known as a long-standing Texas UC and UMC girls camp, not a Christian camp.

Former 90s Waldemar camper here. Agree with this. The Mystic Christian branding was a surprise to me because it was never so for decades. They seem to have been emphasizing that the last 10 years or so especially with the Cypress Lake camp. This was definitely not the draw for the Guad camp families, which were mostly legacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not surprised, in watching 1 minute of the hearing the judge said that there were 27 deficiencies still on the application to renew the license. Yikes!

How many did other camps have?

I think they said only 3 camps out of almost 200 submitted renewals that were approved the first time. This is a brand new process for all the camps. I would assume most are easily fixable/tick-tacky. That said, the Mystic application seemed pretty unprofessional and reflected the camp's tendency to keep things insular, rather than outsource to people who know what they are doing.

[Anonymous]

Had they taken a year or two off, they would've been able to reopen with minimal blowback.

But to submit an application with 27 deficiencies and try to reopen a year later while emotions are still very raw and the trickle-truth headlines about their actions?

Unbelievably greedy and sociopathic. Read the room, morons.