Judge Bars Construction at Camp Mystic but Stops Short of Full Closure

Lead

State District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled on Wednesday in Austin that Camp Mystic will not be fully closed, but ordered a temporary injunction to prevent alterations to the portion of the site on the Guadalupe River where the deadly July 4 flood struck. The order seals off the old Guadalupe grounds — including the commissary, rec hall and main office — while litigation is pending. The decision follows a request from Will and CiCi Steward, whose 8-year-old daughter Cecilia “Cile” Steward disappeared in the flood. The injunction aims to preserve physical evidence as families and lawyers prepare for trial.

Key Takeaways

• The injunction bars remodeling or structural changes to the Guadalupe River side of Camp Mystic while the lawsuit is active.
• Twenty-five campers, two counselors and the camp owner were killed in the July 4 flood; more than 130 people died across the region.
• Cecilia “Cile” Steward, age 8, remains unlocated; her parents sought the court order to protect evidence related to her death.
• The court allowed construction and activity to continue on parts of the property outside the sealed Guadalupe grounds.
• Defense testimony acknowledged some repairs have been made and that cabins lacked walkie-talkies; security cameras existed but were not monitored through the night of the flood.
• Camp Mystic reports 853 campers enrolled for its Cypress Lake site this summer, which it says is separate from the Guadalupe location.
• Families of nine victims have filed a separate suit against the state alleging failure to enforce evacuation-plan requirements.

Background

On July 4, an unprecedented cloudburst produced flash flooding that overwhelmed low-lying camp facilities in Kerr County along the Guadalupe River. The surge inundated Camp Mystic’s older Guadalupe grounds and resulted in scores of deaths at the site and in the wider region. In the months since, survivors, families and local officials have pressed for answers about preparedness, supervision and emergency procedures at the camp.

Will and CiCi Steward filed suit against the camp owners and the Eastland family and requested a temporary restraining order to halt construction that they say could destroy evidence. Camp Mystic has simultaneously announced plans to reopen portions of its operation at a different property, Cypress Lake, and has pointed to new safety measures it says have been added since the disaster.

Main Event

The hearing in Travis County drew packed public attendance as the Stewards and other victims’ relatives sought court intervention. Judge Gamble reviewed testimony and documentary evidence before issuing a targeted injunction that preserves the physical condition of buildings where campers were housed at the time of the flood. The judge specifically ordered the sealing of the old Guadalupe camp’s commissary, recreational hall and main office.

Edward Eastland, who was the Guadalupe camp director during the flood, testified for the defense and said some structures had been repaired and remodeled. He also acknowledged that children in cabins had no walkie-talkies and that security camera feeds were not monitored overnight when the flood began.

After the hearing, attorneys for both sides described the ruling differently: the Stewards’ counsel framed it as a complete preservation of the river-side evidence, while defense counsel said the camp has offered preservation measures and plans to separate campers from the Guadalupe River at its Cypress Lake location. Camp Mystic did not immediately provide a comment to reporters at the hearing.

Analysis & Implications

The injunction’s narrow scope — preventing alterations only on the river-adjacent side — reflects a judicial balance between preserving evidence and allowing some business activity to continue. Legally, it secures the physical site most relevant to the plaintiffs’ negligence and wrongful-death claims, improving their ability to show what conditions existed during the flood.

For Camp Mystic and its insurers, the ruling creates stronger evidentiary constraints and could complicate efforts to repair and reopen the original Guadalupe campus. If the plaintiffs can tie structural or procedural failures to the deaths, liability exposure for the owners may increase, which could influence settlement dynamics and insurance disputes.

Politically and regulatorily, the case has already prompted scrutiny at the state level: families have sued the state claiming enforcement lapses, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick urged a licensing pause pending investigations. The litigation and parallel legislative attention may push changes in camp licensing, evacuation-plan enforcement and flood preparedness standards across Texas.

Comparison & Data

The table highlights the concentrated toll at Camp Mystic versus the broader regional fatalities. Securing the camp’s Guadalupe grounds preserves site-specific details — building layouts, evacuation routes and communications systems — that investigators and lawyers will analyze against regulatory standards and emergency plans.

Reactions & Quotes

Family members and lawyers in the courtroom reacted strongly to the judge’s order, framing it as an essential step for uncovering how the tragedy unfolded.

“Our application for a restraining order was granted in its entirety.”

Brad Beckworth, attorney for the Stewards

Beckworth said the injunction will keep the Guadalupe side intact for the “right evidentiary process toward trial,” emphasizing preservation over immediate reopening.

“It was important to know that the judge understood…we’re trying to preserve the evidence so future campers will never be put in a situation like this again.”

Will Steward, plaintiff and father of Cecilia Steward

Will Steward framed the order as necessary for accountability and future safety improvements rather than as a punitive measure alone.

“She agreed that the evidence of the Guadalupe River should be preserved…Part of what we’re doing is working tonight on the structural separation to keep kids away from Guadalupe River.”

Mikal Watts, attorney for Camp Mystic and the Eastland family

Defense counsel emphasized cooperation on preservation and described steps to prevent interaction between campers and the Guadalupe River at the Cypress Lake site.

Unconfirmed

• Allegations that widespread remodeling occurred after the flood and before the injunction remain partially contested; exact scope and timing of repairs are under court review.
• Whether any camera footage that captured the flood exists and what it shows has not been independently verified beyond testimony in court.
• Camp Mystic’s claims that its Cypress Lake site is fully compliant with new state safety laws are asserted by the camp but have not been independently validated in this article.

Bottom Line

Judge Gamble’s order preserves the most probative areas of the Camp Mystic disaster site while allowing other parts of camp operations to continue under limits. That balance keeps key evidence available for plaintiffs pursuing accountability, even as some camp activities proceed elsewhere.

The ruling increases the likelihood that forensic examinations of the Guadalupe grounds, witness testimony and documentary records will play a central role at trial. Readers should watch for court filings about preserved evidence, any regulatory actions by state agencies, and potential settlements that may arise before a full trial.

Sources

• NBC News (U.S. news outlet reporting on the court hearing and related statements)