Camp Mystic withdraws application to renew license, will not reopen this summer |
Camp Mystic withdraws application to renew license, will not reopen this summer
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — After a week filled with criticism — and even a promise from a lawmaker to shut them down — Camp Mystic’s owners announced Thursday they will not reopen this summer amid multiple investigations and lawsuits.
“No administrative process or summer season should move forward while families continue to grieve, while investigations continue and while so many Texans still carry the pain of last July’s tragedy,” the camp operators said in a statement.
Earlier this week the Eastland family, who have owned the all-girl Christian camp since 1939, testified to an investigative committee of lawmakers tasked with examining the facts of what happened at the camp on July 4 last year.
“I think about the night of the flood every moment of every day,” Edward Eastland said to families of the victims on Tuesday. “We tried our hardest that night and it wasn’t enough to save your daughters.” Edward was one of three adults at the camp who were actively trying to evacuate campers as waters rose.
Twenty-five campers and two counselors, along with Edward’s father, Dick, died during the Independence Day floods last year. Investigators hired by the legislative committee said on Monday that the camp........