AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is pushing to block Camp Mystic from renewing its operating license for 2026.
If Patrick's effort is successful, it would prevent the camp's operations from opening anywhere this summer following last July's deadly flooding that resulted in the deaths of 27 people, including campers and counselors.
In a message posted to social media on Friday, Patrick cited testimony from Camp Mystic's director. According to a transcript of that testimony, the director admitted to not having a full evacuation order plan in place, as well as having no one monitoring the camp's cameras.
“I'm asking this agency (the Texas Department of State Health Services) to not renew their license, and not to put the seal of approval of the State of Texas to allow a family who oversaw this tragedy, and could’ve prevented it, to be able to operate somewhere, even though they say, 'Well, it's another camp, it's higher it's safe.'" Patrick said in the video. "No one's talking about the camp, no one's trying to put Camp Mystic out of camp forever. We're just saying 'don't renew it now,' and let the process play out so that the families can have peace and get the answers to the questions that have never been asked or answered.”
Patrick's push comes as the camp is trying to open a separate property on Cypress Lake, which is not located on the Guadalupe River.
Earlier this month, a Travis County judge ordered that part of Camp Mystic remain closed indefinitely and prohibited any construction or changes in that portion of the campus where the flooding occurred. However, the ruling did allow the Cypress Lake portion of the camp to reopen this summer should they be approved for a license by the Texas Department of State Health Services.