The parents of a Camp Mystic camper who has not been recovered following the deadly July 4, 2025, flooding have filed a lawsuit seeking to block the Hill Country summer camp from reopening, alleging camp leaders ignored repeated flood warnings and failed to evacuate children before rising waters swept through riverside cabins.
The 108-page wrongful-death petition was filed February 4 in Travis County district court by Will and CiCi Steward, the parents of eight-year-old Cecilia “Cile” Steward, who was attending Camp Mystic near Hunt, Texas, when flash flooding struck the Guadalupe River corridor. According to court filings, Cile has not been recovered, and recovery efforts remain ongoing.
Lawsuit Alleges Ignored Warnings And Lack Of Evacuation Plan
According to the lawsuit, Camp Mystic and members of the Eastland family — who have owned and operated the camp for decades — failed to act despite multiple warnings from state and federal agencies in the days and hours leading up to the flood.
The filing cites alerts from the National Weather Service and the Texas Division of Emergency Management beginning July 2, escalating to a flash flood warning at approximately 1:14 a.m. on July 4 that stated “life-threatening conditions exist” and urged immediate movement to higher ground. The petition alleges camp leadership did not order a full evacuation and instead instructed campers and counselors in low-lying cabins to shelter in place.
“On and before July 4, 2025, common-sense safety measures were absent. Protocols and plans that should have been in place were ignored,” the lawsuit states.
The Stewards further allege the camp lacked a written flood evacuation plan required under Texas youth camp regulations and failed to provide counselors and campers with adequate emergency training or reliable communication equipment.
Injunction Sought To Prevent Reopening
In addition to seeking damages in excess of $1 million, the lawsuit asks the court to issue an injunction preventing Camp Mystic from reopening or operating while litigation is ongoing. The filing argues that reopening efforts place children at continued risk and alleges the camp prioritized resuming operations over accountability and safety reforms.
Camp Mystic has not yet filed a response to the lawsuit. No court has ruled on the merits of the claims.
Broader Legal Context
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Camp Mystic has characterized the July 4 flooding as an unprecedented “1,000-year” event that could not have been reasonably anticipated. Families of victims have disputed that claim, pointing to the region’s long history of flash flooding and to official warnings issued before the disaster.
The July 4 flood killed 27 people, including 25 campers and two counselors, when rapidly rising waters swept through cabins along the Guadalupe River in an area commonly referred to as Flash Flood Alley.
The Stewards’ lawsuit is separate from other wrongful-death suits previously filed against Camp Mystic by families affected by the flooding. No class action or consolidated case has been announced.
Ongoing Investigations
Multiple civil lawsuits related to the flooding remain pending. Following the disaster, Texas lawmakers passed new youth camp safety legislation during a 2025 special session aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness and evacuation requirements.
Camp Mystic, founded in 1926, is a Christian girls summer camp located along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. Requests for comment from Camp Mystic were not immediately returned as of publication.
