Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is urging the Texas Department of State Health Services not to issue Camp Mystic a license to operate until lawmakers complete their investigation into last summer’s deadly flooding, drawing criticism from State Rep. Wes Virdell.
On Monday, Patrick posted a letter to the DSHS, strongly urging them not to issue a license to Camp Mystic until a full investigation is conducted by the legislature surrounding the tragic loss of life that occurred during the 4th of July floods last summer.
During the hill country flooding, 28 lives were tragically lost at Camp Mystic. This includes 25 campers, two staff members, and camp director Dick Eastland.
The Texas Senate has created an investigative committee on the July 2025 flooding events and Patrick said it will meet jointly with members of the Texas House of Representatives sometime this spring to gather facts surrounding the loss of life that occurred.
“I expect, after those facts are determined, there may be necessary corrective actions for Camp Mystic to take to make sure future campers and counselors are safe and do not lose their lives.”
Patrick voiced that “Texans deserve transparency and clear answers” before Camp Mystic is given a camp license to operate. He called it “naive” to allow Camp Mystic to hold camp as usual before all the facts surrounding the incident are known.
“Camp Mystic should have decided on their own to suspend operations this coming summer, but it appears they are planning for camp in 2026 and will likely be seeking your approval to operate with a renewed license,” Patrick told the DSHS.
Virdell (R–Brady), whose district includes Camp Mystic, publicly pushed back in strong disagreement on Patrick’s post.
“The camp was hit with an unprecedented flood that has not been seen in centuries … and Camp Mystic is the first camp to install the new flood warning systems way ahead of help from the government,” said Virdell.
“I have strong concerns that the Kerrville area and camps won’t get a fair investigation if this is the position of the Lt. Governor,” continued Virdell.
Virdell contends that Patrick’s request and the new camp safety regulations could lead to the closure of Camp Mystic.
The camp safety legislation enacted last summer imposes requirements that many camps say they can’t meet within current time and budget limits.
“I offered amendments that would have fixed the camp safety bill and instead we are facing a lot of camp closures that have zero flood risk,” wrote Virdell. “I am strongly of the belief that this bill was directly targeted at shutting Camp Mystic down and the charge was led by some very strong political influencers behind the scenes.”
Camp Mystic released a statement defending their right to continue to hold camp this summer, as they are currently in full compliance “with all aspects” of the new state safety laws, arguing there is no regulatory basis to deny it a license.
The camp also emphasized that the cabins affected during the floods are not being reopened and the separate property being used is “not adjacent to the Guadalupe River and sustained no significant damage from the historic flood on July 4.”
The camp reiterated their invitation to Patrick and other Texas officials to come see the camp for themselves.
“Our family will always be available as a resource for the Committee as we believe having each member of the Committee physically tour the Camp location is the best and only way to learn exactly what happened.”
Camp Mystic said Patrick has not responded to this invitation.
Mt. Lebanon Camp Executive Director Ed Walker told Texas Scorecard that although Patrick oversaw the camp safety legislation last summer, he failed to foresee or seek input on the consequences of some of its requirements.
“Because he didn’t catch it in time, nonprofit camps for churches, children with special needs, autism, Down Syndrome, mobility challenges, the deaf community, inner-city youth, outdoor stewardship programs … all are required to install fiber by this summer, even where none exists, or lose their license to operate,” said Walker.
Walker highlighted that other widely available satellite internet options would have been acceptable where fiber does not exist, but the new requirements do not give any exceptions. Walker said camps across the state will now close due to issues and new expenses completely unrelated to campers’ safety.
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