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In a move that has outraged victims' families, the storied Camp Mystic — the Hill Country girls camp devastated by catastrophic flooding last Fourth of July — has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, effectively pausing multiple lawsuits seeking accountability for the deaths of 25 campers and two counselors.

The filing, submitted at 1 a.m. Wednesday, comes nearly a year after flash floods along the Guadalupe River swept through the camp near Hunt in one of the deadliest natural disasters in Texas history. The company indicated it could later shift to liquidation if needed.

Attorneys representing the victims’ families expressed determination to continue their legal battles despite the bankruptcy shield. Paul Yetter, representing seven families, said the fight for justice “will not stop,” while Mark Lanier, representing six other families, vowed to challenge any attempts to delay accountability.

The lawsuits accuse camp leadership of gross negligence, claiming they ignored weather warnings, lacked proper evacuation plans, and delayed moving girls from low-lying cabins as waters rose rapidly. Camp Director Richard “Dick” Eastland died trying to rescue campers.

This bankruptcy filing adds a painful new chapter to an already heartbreaking tragedy. Last summer’s floods claimed at least 136 lives across the region, but the loss at Camp Mystic — a place generations of girls had called a second home — struck a particularly deep chord. Investigations have revealed serious lapses, including missing written emergency procedures and inadequate staff training, despite ample time to evacuate.

While the camp had hoped to reopen for the 2026 season, it withdrew its license application in April amid mounting pressure and grief. Now, with bankruptcy protection in place, the Eastland family and associated entities are seeking breathing room from civil claims — but families are refusing to let the process stall their pursuit of answers and justice.

As state investigations by the Texas Rangers and Department of State Health Services continue, this development raises difficult questions about corporate accountability when tragedy strikes at beloved institutions. For the families who lost daughters, sisters, and friends, the fight is far from over.