A Texas judge has ordered Camp Mystic to preserve cabins and parts of its grounds damaged in last year's catastrophic floods that killed 25 girls and two counsellors. The order follows a lawsuit by the family of eight-year-old Cile Steward, whose body has not been recovered.
District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled that the camp must not alter or demolish the cabins where campers were housed during the floods, and must not use the portion of the camp closest to the Guadalupe River where those cabins were located. The family argued that any changes could destroy evidence needed for their lawsuit.
“What we’re trying to do is preserve the evidence that’s there so that we can understand, so that future campers will never be put in a situation like this again,” said Will Steward, Cile's father. The camp, established in 1926, did not evacuate and was hit hard when the river rose from 14 feet to 29.5 feet within 60 minutes.
Attorneys for Camp Mystic expressed sympathy but maintained there was little they could have done during the catastrophic flooding. “Nobody had ever seen a prior flood anything like we saw in 2025,” said Mikal Watts, an attorney for the camp. The camp still needs approval for a licence to operate this summer, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has asked regulators not to renew the licence while deaths are investigated.
Families of several girls who died have sued the camp's operators, arguing that camp officials failed to take necessary steps to protect campers as floodwaters approached. The Stewards said they do not believe the camp has adequate safety measures in place while they still search for their daughter.
