AUSTIN, TX — A Texas judge will hear evidence Wednesday about whether the youth camp where 25 girls and two counselors were killed Disastrous floods last year It must remain closed while a lawsuit filed by one of the girls’ families remains pending.
The family of 8-year-old Cile Steward, who was swept away in floods and whose body has not yet been recovered, has asked a Travis County judge to bar the owners of Camp Mystic from reopening the camp and halt any construction while the lawsuit is pending. Their request for a temporary injunction asserts that any changes to the camp could destroy evidence needed for the lawsuit.
“It is now the responsibility of this court to protect the public, plaintiffs’ search for answers, and evidence at the Camp Mystic site,” the attorneys wrote.
The decision taken by the camp last year was to partially open it and erect a memorial over it It sparked anger From many of the girls’ families mourning their loved ones who said they were not consulted about the plans.
“We call on Camp Mystic to cease all discussions regarding reopening and memorials,” CiCi and Will Steward wrote to Camp Mystic officials after the camp’s decision was announced.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asked Texas regulators Failure to renew the license for Camp Mystic while investigating the deaths and citing legislative investigations that are expected to begin in the spring.
The families of many of the girls who died He filed a lawsuit against the campground operatorsUnder the pretext that camp officials failed to take the necessary steps to protect the campers as floodwaters approached that threatened their lives.
Lawyers for Camp Mystic expressed sympathy for the girls’ families but stressed there was little they could have done during the catastrophic floods that quickly overwhelmed the camp.
“No one has ever seen a flood like what we saw in 2025,” said Mikal Watts, an attorney for Camp Mystic and its owners.
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Murphy reported from Oklahoma City