Camp Longhorn Director Steps Away After DWI Arrest Rocks Iconic Texas Summer Camp

A Sudden Absence at a Beloved Texas Institution

A director at Camp Longhorn — one of Texas' most storied summer camps — has taken a leave of absence following a DWI arrest, casting an unexpected shadow over a camp currently in the middle of its summer season. The news, first reported by the Austin American-Statesman, arrives at a particularly sensitive moment: children are on campus, families are watching, and the camp's reputation for character-building and trust is very much on the line.

Founded in 1939, Camp Longhorn is one of Texas' most iconic youth summer camps, welcoming nearly 7,000 campers each year across three scenic Hill Country locations. Known for its strong traditions, water activities, and emphasis on character-building, Camp Longhorn provides a memorable experience that keeps families coming back generation after generation. That deep-rooted legacy makes the arrest of one of its directors all the more jarring for the thousands of families who entrust the camp with their children each summer.

A Family-Run Camp With Deep Community Ties

More than 85 years ago, founders Tex and Pat Robertson created Camp Longhorn on the shores of Inks Lake and made it a camp like no other. In 1975, Camp Longhorn Indian Springs opened its gates nearby, nestled on scenic property with two private, spring-fed lakes. In 2016, a third branch, C3 on Inks Lake, welcomed children to its shores. Family run, all three camps share the same Camp Longhorn spirit and traditions. The camp's staff directory lists multiple members of the Robertson family in key leadership roles, underscoring how deeply personal — and how publicly accountable — this institution is.

The Camp Longhorn Board of Managers is comprised of the five children of founders Tex and Pat Robertson, and this board has the overall responsibility for the strategic and operational management of Camp Longhorn. That family governance structure means decisions about how to respond to the arrest — including placing the director on leave — fall squarely within the Robertson family's hands, and will be scrutinized by a loyal and multigenerational community of campers and parents.

The Timing Could Not Be More Difficult

A DWI arrest involving any camp director would be serious. But the timing here amplifies every concern. Summer camp is already in session, with thousands of children currently enrolled across the three Hill Country locations. As General Manager of Camp Longhorn, Bill Robertson oversees three locations that together host nearly 7,000 campers each summer — sailboats on the water, kids scattered across fields and courts, and staff coordinating dozens of activities. Parents who send their children to overnight camps place an enormous degree of trust in the adults running them, and a DWI charge strikes directly at that trust.

Texas summer camps have already been under heightened scrutiny following the tragic 2025 flooding disaster at Camp Mystic, which prompted sweeping new state safety legislation. Camp Doublecreek and other youth camps in Texas have been struggling to meet the requirements of the Texas Department of State Health Services due to the Heaven's 27 Camp Safety Act and the Youth CAMPER Act. Against that backdrop, any incident involving the conduct of camp leadership is likely to draw even more attention from regulators and parents alike.

What Comes Next for Camp Longhorn

The decision to place the director on leave suggests the camp's leadership is taking the matter seriously and moving to protect the integrity of the operation while the legal process plays out. That step — removing the individual from the camp environment — is the kind of immediate accountability measure that parents and oversight bodies will be watching for. Whether the leave becomes permanent will likely depend on how the legal case develops and what additional details emerge.

Camp Longhorn isn't just a place — it's a legacy, passed down through generations of the same family, carrying with it the spirit of those who built it, led it, and loved it. That legacy is now being tested in a very public way. How the Robertson family and the camp's board navigate this moment — with transparency, accountability, and a clear commitment to the safety and well-being of the children in their care — will go a long way toward determining whether that legacy endures intact.