Judge Orders Camp Mystic to Preserve Flood-Damaged Cabins as Lawsuits Mount
Nearly a year after catastrophic flash floods swept through the Texas Hill Country on the Fourth of July, claiming 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, a Travis County judge has issued a sweeping court order. This order prevents the Christian girls’ camp from altering the structures where those tragic deaths occurred. The ruling, accompanied by three days of emotional testimony, has reignited urgent questions regarding responsibility and whether the camp should be permitted to reopen.
“No Part of the Land Shall Be Altered”
This week, Travis County District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble confirmed a temporary injunction. The order directs Camp Mystic, its directors, and the Eastland family, who own the camp, not to alter, demolish, repair, remodel, reconstruct, or remove any structures or landscape features on the portion of the campus adjacent to the Guadalupe River. This is the same area where floodwaters rose with deadly speed in the early hours of July 4, 2025.
The structures designated for protection include named cabins, the Main Office, Rec Hall, Harrison Hall, and the Commissary building. Holding a map in court, Judge Gamble plainly stated her intention: “My intention is that no part of the land that we generally discussed as the Guadalupe River camp will have anything done to it.” Her written order emphasizes that “once this physical evidence is altered or destroyed, it cannot be recreated, and no adequate remedy at law exists to restore the evidence.”
Will and CiCi Steward, whose 8-year-old daughter was among 27 people killed in the Camp Mystic flood, asked a judge to keep the Hill Country camp closed until their lawsuit goes to trial.
— San Antonio Express-News (@ExpressNews) March 4, 2026
Cecilia ‘Cile’ Steward is the only Camp Mystic flood victim whose body hasn’t been… pic.twitter.com/UooPBu6jfV
This ruling stems from a request made by Will and CiCi Steward, the Austin parents of Cecilia “Cile” Steward. Cile, an 8-year-old girl, was swept away that night and her body has never been recovered. Their family is one of approximately a dozen now suing Camp Mystic and its leadership for negligence. The Stewards’ legal team had raised concerns that the camp was already dismantling cabins to the studs and employing heavy machinery to reshape the land, potentially destroying crucial evidence before their case could be heard.
Three Days of Haunting Testimony
The evidentiary hearing presented an extensive public account of the night’s events. It was difficult to absorb.
Camp director Edward Eastland, son of the late co-owner Dick Eastland (who also perished in the flood), acknowledged under oath that the camp lacked a written evacuation plan – a document required by Texas state regulations.
In the Camp Mystic TRO hearing last week, Edward Eastland testified that Mystic had no evacuation plan – which is something required by state law (and common sense)
— Adam Loewy (@LoewyLawFirm) March 21, 2026
Kinda hard to believe this level of gross negligence #txlege
He testified that he did not see National Weather Service flash flood warnings issued the day before the storm. Furthermore, he slept through a CodeRED emergency alert sent to his area at 1:14 a.m. Even after waking, staff reportedly spent the next hour moving equipment instead of evacuating campers. The order to evacuate cabins was not issued until approximately 3 a.m., by which time the Guadalupe River had become a formidable torrent.
Attorneys representing the Steward family played a recording of a 911 call from a group of seasonal workers on the property. Their desperate voices pleaded for help as water levels rose around them. The courtroom fell into a profound silence.
A particularly poignant moment occurred when Mary Liz Eastland, the camp director’s wife and chief medical officer, was questioned by the Stewards’ attorney. She was asked if she had “abandoned” young Cile when rising water prevented her from reaching the girl’s cabin. Her quiet response: “Yes.”
Camp Mystic hearing: Britt Eastland said his mom Tweety had to sell her Austin house on Scenic Dr because she was afraid to stay there after receiving death threats.
— Jim Vertuno (@JimVertuno) April 15, 2026
Security guard Glenn Juenke, testifying for the camp, offered a different perspective. He described personally guiding groups of girls to higher ground and assisting others in sheltering on floating air mattresses within a flooded cabin until dawn. Every camper he personally evacuated survived. However, Juenke also conceded that if a general evacuation order had been issued earlier that night, lives could have been saved. He could not recall camp operators ever training campers, counselors, or staff on emergency evacuation procedures.
The Camp Wants to Reopen — Parents Want It Stopped
While this legal battle unfolds in Austin, Camp Mystic has proceeded with plans to resume operations this summer. Approximately 900 girls are currently enrolled to attend the camp at Mystic’s Cypress Lake site. This is a neighboring property less than two miles from the flood-ravaged Guadalupe campus and was unaffected by last year’s disaster. The camp has submitted a license renewal application to state health regulators. A spokesperson indicated plans to reopen in full compliance with Texas’s new camp safety laws.
The Steward family, along with other grieving parents, has urged the state to deny this license. Speaking outside the courthouse, CiCi Steward stated that the testimony she had just heard solidified her conviction: “This is the same director of Camp Mystic that is asking 850 students to come join him in six weeks. I believe now is the time for the State of Texas to step in and deny the license.”
Her husband, Will, described the Eastlands’ account of the night – during which Edward’s mother, wife, and children managed to reach higher ground – as “astonishing.” This is particularly noteworthy given that their own daughter and other campers were reportedly instructed to shelter in place. The state license application remains under review. It is currently unclear whether regulators will act before the summer season begins.
A Search That Never Ended
Could the deaths at Camp Mystic have been prevented? Twenty-seven girls died in a Texas flood, dividing a community over whether it was an act of God or the fault of camp leadership. https://t.co/E5kgIPi8vk
— New York Magazine (@NYMag) March 23, 2026
For the Steward family, the injunction represents more than just a lawsuit. As long as the Guadalupe River side of Camp Mystic remains undisturbed, there remains hope, however faint, that Cile may still be found. Her body has not been recovered in over nine months. Recovery efforts are ongoing.
“It is not a victory for Mystic,” CiCi Steward told reporters following the judge’s ruling. “It’s hard to call it a victory for us, despite the fact that it is, on paper.”
The broader July 4 flood resulted in the deaths of at least 135 people across Kerr County, marking it as one of the deadliest flash flood events in Texas history. Camp Mystic’s 27 fatalities – twenty-five campers and two counselors – represent the largest single-site loss of life from that disaster. As the one-year anniversary approaches, the courtroom in Austin is becoming the primary venue where accountability will be pursued, one piece of preserved evidence at a time.
The hearing is part of the fifth lawsuit filed against Camp Mystic. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble presides over the Steward family’s case in the 459th State District Court in Travis County.
Sources:
- KUT Radio (Austin’s NPR Station) — kut.org — “Judge orders Camp Mystic to preserve flooded cabins”
- KVUE (ABC Austin) — kvue.com — “Camp Mystic leaders still have not officially reported deaths from last summer’s flooding to state”
- KHOU 11 (Houston) — khou.com — “Judge rules Camp Mystic can’t change buildings where 27 died”
- KXAN (NBC Austin) — kxan.com — “Judge halts renovations at Camp Mystic Guadalupe site as flood victim’s family fights to prevent reopening”
- FOX 7 Austin / FOX 26 Houston — fox7austin.com / fox26houston.com — “Camp Mystic faces court battle as families seek to block reopening after 2025 deadly flood”
- CBS Texas — cbsnews.com/texas — “Camp Mystic hearing ends with emotional flood testimony in Austin”
- WFAA (ABC Dallas) — wfaa.com — “Camp Mystic official says he didn’t see flood warnings issued the day before storm hit”
- Texas Tribune — texastribune.org — “Camp Mystic official testifies he didn’t see flood warnings”
Governor Greg Abbott has warned three of Texas’ major metropolitan hubs—Houston, Dallas, and Austin—that they face the loss of roughly $200 million in state public safety grants.
The Office of @GregAbbott_TX threatens to take back $2.5 million in grants awarded to @austintexasgov for their refusal to cooperate with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Gov Abbot has given The City of Austin until April 23rd to comply. pic.twitter.com/tGclBam3Xy
— Tony Ortiz (Current Revolt) (@CurrentRevolt) April 16, 2026
Houston received more than $100 million from the state based on a written agreement that they will comply with immigration enforcement.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 14, 2026
If they refuse to comply, they better get out their check book.
It will be costly if they refuse to keep their streets safe. https://t.co/aluxi2trNJ
🚨BREAKING: I sued Houston officials for adopting sanctuary city policies designed to limit local law enforcement's cooperation with ICE.
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) April 16, 2026
Under my watch, no Texas city will be a safe harbor for illegals. pic.twitter.com/K5fls5xkpf
The threat targets local policies that restrict police cooperation with federal immigration officials. Specifically, these cities have directives preventing officers from extending detentions during routine encounters, such as traffic stops, solely to accommodate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
At a Glance: The Funding Feud
| Factor | Details |
| Cities Involved | Houston, Dallas, and Austin |
| Financial Risk | Approximately $200 million in public safety funding |
| Core Conflict | Local rules limiting detention extensions for ICE |
| Governor’s Stance | Policies must be changed to ensure federal cooperation |
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson responded:
Houston faces the biggest potential loss of state funding. On Monday, Abbott’s office told the state’s largest city that the state will withdraw around $110 million in public safety grants, if it does not repeal its ordinance.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire reverses course on new ICE policy
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) April 16, 2026
The state of Texas threatened to withhold $110 million in funding if they passed new anti-ICE laws, they passed them anyway
The states of Texas closed their account!
So Houston is repealing the new laws
“Yesterday,… pic.twitter.com/9OYuUiTGQ1
Abbott’s office followed that on Thursday with similar letters to Austin — warning the city that around $2.5 million in similar funding could be at risk — and Dallas, which stands to lose more than $32 million in grants, as well as more than $55 million in World Cup public safety funding. (Texas Tribune)
Austin City Council Member Mike Siegel talks about the Texas attorney general’s plans to investigate the city of Austin.
Immigration arrests were made Thursday morning on SH21, near Cotton Gin Road in Uhland.
The City of Austin handed its departing interim police chief a $766,000 payout — and now taxpayers want answers.
Former Austin interim police chief Robin Henderson received a city payout of more than $766,000 in January, stemming from an agreement with city officials for her to serve in an acting capacity for a year between 2023 and 2024.
Dennis Farris is president of the Austin Police Retired Officers Association.
OK for everyone who’s in an uproar over this let me explain a few things. Because Chief Henderson was the interim Chief her increased salary did not go towards her pension only the portion that she was making before she was appointed interim. She was the Chief doing the job but…
— Dennis Farris (@Farris_Actual) April 16, 2026
A state agency is investigating the Del Valle ISD Police Department following a complaint tied to hiring procedures and training records, with the district cooperating fully.
What’s going on in South Austin?
There is a whole underworld economy hiding in plain sight.
— Desiree (@DesireeAmerica4) April 16, 2026
In places like South Austin, Tx. These "trap hotels" operate as sovereign territory. The dealers literally pay the motel owners a massive premium just to own the block and run their "natural commerce" without… pic.twitter.com/ojyoLdvU4h
Austin police are raising awareness after reporting an uptick in pickpocketing incidents across downtown and the city’s entertainment district.
Sammy Eusebio Ybarra remains at large and is currently wanted in Caldwell County on a felony warrant for:
• Assault Family Violence (Impeding Breathing)
• Evading Arrest or Detention
He is believed to be in the Lockhart or Martindale area.
A man is accused of murder in Georgetown after a body was found in February under a highway overpass, an arrest affidavit said. (Austin American-Statesman)
In Travis County alone, officials say there were more than 5,000 investigations into child abuse and neglect in 2025.
Part of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in East Austin were closed early this morning (has since reopened) after police say a driver flipped their vehicle, taking out a bus stop and light pole.
Authorities are investigating a deadly crash in the southbound lanes of Interstate 35 Thursday morning that killed a pedestrian.
Behind the scenes👀
— Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (@AustinAirport) April 16, 2026
Our New Midfield Taxiways expansion project is one of our most important enabling projects!
To support our future 26 gate Concourse B and keep aircraft moving efficiently, we are building two new parallel taxiways.
Think of them as highways for airplanes✈️ pic.twitter.com/iEDPo5I86z
Residents near the proposed Zydeco Data Center in Hutto are filing two formal written protests, aimed at triggering a state-mandated supermajority vote by the Hutto City Council. The effort is organized through a “Stop the Hutto Data Center” Facebook group and invokes Texas Local Government Code 211.0061.
The explosive growth of data centers in Central Texas is creating concern among rural Texans who fear the large facilities will negatively impact the county’s resources.
A South Korean man was confirmed as the deceased in an accident that took place at the Samsung Austin Semiconductor in February. (Taylor Press)
People experiencing homelessness said they don’t have enough time to find a new place to live and the resources haven’t been enough to keep them housed. Some said they weren’t offered any help at all. (KUT 90.5)
PODCAST
The Red River Cultural District has unveiled a plan to revamp its so-called “Music Mile,” a 10-block stretch from 15th to 5th streets. The proposal follows the district’s recent economic impact report, but doesn’t mention how much the makeover would cost. On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producers Elissa Castles and Eva Ruth Moravec to discuss the hopeful changes coming and why upgrading and preserving the street matters. Plus, a lightning round of news updates on: the Cabana Club shooting, Austin’s best-inthe-nation coffee (we agree), and why some city employees were threatened with a lawsuit . Then, stick around for the team’s weekend picks!
Do you know the story of how the Barton Creek Greenbelt came to be?
FOREVERLAND: the story of the Barton Creek Greenbelt premiered this week on Austin PBS and will air again Monday night.
WEATHER
THURSDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
Dangerous severe weather is expected to develop across the Central U.S. early this afternoon.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick recently challenged the legal concept of the “separation of church and state,” claiming the principle is nowhere to be found in the U.S. Constitution. He voiced this position in his capacity as chair of President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, a group currently drafting federal policy proposals due this May. These provocative comments arrive at a time when Texas is already a central battleground for intense legal disputes regarding the intersection of faith and government. (KUT 90.5)
Senator John Cornyn of Texas holds a significant fund-raising edge over his hard-line Republican challenger, the state attorney general Ken Paxton, with four weeks to go before early voting begins in their runoff. (New York Times)
Breaking down the funding and what it means for the election:
Paxton had a campaign stop in Williamson County for a lunch with his supporters on Tuesday where he touted his tenure as the state’s top litigator, claiming he has more accomplishments every two weeks than his opponent — incumbent Sen. John Cornyn — has had during his time in Congress. Paxton said that he would support Cornyn if he is beaten in the May 26 runoff election.
Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office is investigating alleged DEI teachings at University of North Texas. The investigation centers on a video taken in June 2025 and shared by nonprofit activist group Accuracy in Media. The video appears to show an alleged North Texas staff member in the social work department discussing ways the department is circumventing state restrictions on DEI curriculum.
At Texas Tech…
🚨Students in the Texas Tech system (64k, give or take) are now PROHIBITED from researching or writing anything "centered on" sexual orientation or gender identity as part of an undergrad honors or graduate thesis.
— Jeffrey Sachs (@JeffreyASachs) April 16, 2026
Not faculty, mind you. Students. pic.twitter.com/JL8PZy0nZ7
A coalition comprising a West Texas river guide, a church preservation organization, and a national advocacy group has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The plaintiffs allege that the administration unconstitutionally bypassed federal environmental laws to fast-track border wall construction within the Big Bend region.
BREAKING: We’re suing DHS for invoking sweeping waiver authority gutting dozens of federal laws to fast-track border wall construction in the Big Bend region.
— Laiken Jordahl (@LaikenJordahl) April 16, 2026
This is an unconstitutional power grab—Congress never authorized anything close to this scale of action or destruction. pic.twitter.com/QLbU7Ajdwv
Texas is staring down a massive financial challenge to secure its water future. According to a new state analysis released Thursday, local communities will need to invest $174 billion over the next 50 years to prevent a severe water shortage.
This figure represents a staggering increase—more than double the $80 billion projected just four years ago in the previous state water plan. (Texas Tribune)
An Illinois judge has sentenced a Texas man to more than two decades in federal prison for orchestrating a $20 million cryptocurrency scam. (CBS Chicago)
Meanwhile…
New: Texas oil and gas regulator Wayne Christian is pitching investors on a new crypto token tied to the value of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. https://t.co/zoXSRIib88
— Kayla Guo (@kaylaguo_) April 16, 2026
An inmate who made suicidal statements and had been in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for approximately two weeks died April 15, according to a custodial death report.
The strongarming of Houston by Governor Greg Abbott, who is threatening to withdraw $110 million in first responder funding over the city’s policy limiting the Houston Police Department’s interactions with ICE, is the latest example of state-level politics interfering with the right of Texas cities to run themselves as they see fit. With Abbott running the state government like a Death Star, maybe he shouldn’t be surprised to see Texas’ major cities slipping through his fingers.
This week, Congress was on the cusp of doing something that has never happened in U.S. history: forcibly removing four House members. Two of those members resigned, including Rep. Tony Gonzales (R) of Texas.
Michael Gold, who covers Congress, explains what unfolded on Capitol Hill, and what the events tell us about how willing Congress is to hold itself accountable.
Police arrested a Texas singer in Los Angeles after a missing teen was found dead in a car tied to him. No charges filed; case heads to DA Monday.
SPORTS
come hang with us 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/PnaJl9NGQw
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) April 16, 2026
COLLEGE BASEBALL: The No. 4 Texas Longhorns host No. 11 Alabama in an SEC weekend series. (Texas Longhorns)
See you Saturday, Longhorn Nation! 🤘
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 15, 2026
🔗 https://t.co/SkyeWQmuIh pic.twitter.com/LtAS9AELVy
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Texas quarterback Arch Manning says he’s feeling 100% after off-season foot surgery.
Arlington City Council will consider contributing up to $273 million to AT&T Stadium upgrades, keeping the Dallas Cowboys there through 2055. But it’s unclear if residents will have a say: https://t.co/9HwjxAQ4DD pic.twitter.com/LQn7RR5ZQp
— WFAA (@wfaa) April 16, 2026
The home of the Houston Texans is getting a familiar name again. The Texans announced that NRG Stadium in Houston will be renamed back to its original title: Reliant Stadium.
The name is back. The energy never left.
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 15, 2026
Reliant Stadium returns 🤘 https://t.co/PRrNXiskj5
NBA: The schedules are set for the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
NHL: The 2026 NHL regular season has concluded. The Dallas Stars ended with a record of 50-20-12 after a win against Buffalo Wednesday night.
They will face the Minnesota Wild tomorrow in Game 1 of the First Round of the NHL Playoffs (Western Conference). (The Atlantic)
MLB: Texas manages a split in the series in Sacramento after a 4-run rally in the 9th inning Thursday.
Joc Pederson hit a go-ahead single in a four-run ninth inning and the Texas Rangers rallied last in a 9-6 victory over the Athletics on Thursday to earn a split of their four-game series. (Associated Press)
Hunter Goodman homered and doubled to help the Colorado Rockies snap a six-game skid with a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday night. (Associated Press)
ON THE SCHEDULE
Geologist Myron Cook explores a massive, ancient geological feature buried thousands of feet beneath the plains of West Texas. Using seismic data and drilling history, they reveal the unexpected nature of this structure and its significant impact on the region’s oil industry.
