Trending Now - Family of Camp Mystic Victim Seeks to Halt Camp's Reopening

WHO:

Cile Steward, 8-year-old victim of the flood

Will Steward, father of Cile Steward

Cici Steward, mother of Cile Steward

District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble

Mikal Watts, attorney for Camp Mystic and its family of owners

Edward Eastland, son of camp owner Richard Eastland

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

Camp Mystic, youth camp established in 1926

WHAT:

A Texas judge ordered Camp Mystic to preserve damaged cabins but did not block reopening plans.

The family of Cile Steward filed a lawsuit to keep the camp closed and halt construction.

The judge ruled that the camp's owners must not alter or demolish the cabins where campers were housed during the floods.

The camp's floodwaters rose from 14 feet (4.2 meters) to 29.5 feet (9 meters) within 60 minutes.

More than 850 campers have signed up to attend the camp in 2026.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick requested Texas regulators not to renew the camp's license while investigations are ongoing.

WHERE:

Camp Mystic, located near the Guadalupe River in Texas

Austin, Texas (location of the court hearing)

WHEN:

The flood occurred on July 4, 2025.

The court hearing took place on March 4, 2026.

Legislative probes are expected to begin in spring 2026.

WHY:

The family of Cile Steward argues that changes at the camp could destroy evidence needed for their lawsuit.

Families of the deceased girls claim that camp officials failed to take necessary steps to protect campers from the flood.

HOW:

The camp did not evacuate during the flooding.

Security cameras were present, but no one was monitoring the live feed during the flood.

Edward Eastland testified that his family had to break out a window to evacuate to higher ground.

In a recent court hearing in Austin, a Texas judge ordered Camp Mystic to preserve the damaged cabins where eight-year-old Cile Steward and other campers were housed during the devastating flood last July, but did not block the camp's plans to reopen. Cile's family has filed a lawsuit to keep the camp closed, arguing that any alterations could destroy crucial evidence, while Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has requested that Texas regulators refrain from renewing the camp's license as investigations continue. The floodwaters at Camp Mystic rose dramatically, and despite the camp's history since 1926, more than 850 campers are still signed up for the upcoming season.