Following various lawsuits and pressure to close Camp Mystic, a Travis County judge has ruled that its annual summer camps can continue on territory unaffected by last summer’s deadly flooding.
Judge Maya Guerra Gamble declined to take action to fully close down Camp Mystic during a hearing held on Wednesday, in response to a request to do so.
During the Hill Country flooding last July, 28 lives were tragically lost at Camp Mystic. This included 25 campers, two staff members, and Director Dick Eastland.
The parents of one Camp Mystic victim, Cile Steward, filed a lawsuit requesting a restraining order last month. They also requested that Mystic not reopen to campers this summer.
In the filing, the Stewards reason that they are seeking the closure to preserve evidence “on how and why Cile Steward lost her life while entrusted to Defendants’ care.”
Gamble did grant a temporary injunction prohibiting Mystic from altering structures used by the campers and sealing off all other buildings on the grounds in the vicinity of the flood-affected area.
Any of the camp’s grounds outside of this area can continue with construction or renovations.
Last month, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick urged the Texas Department of State Health Services not to issue Camp Mystic the necessary license to operate until the Texas Legislature has a chance to investigate the tragic event.
State Rep. Wes Virdell (R–Brady), whose district includes Camp Mystic, publicly pushed back against Patrick.
“The camp was hit with an unprecedented flood that has not been seen in centuries … and Camp Mystic is the first camp to install the new flood warning systems way ahead of help from the government,” said Virdell.
Following Gamble’s ruling, Virdell voiced his support. He also confirmed that, “as of now, Camp Mystic Cypress Lake is still eligible to open this summer.”
“The judge was extremely fair in the ruling and I learned a lot today about the process,” said Virdell.
According to NBC, over 800 campers are signed up to attend Camp Mystic this summer.
While the lawsuit continues, Gamble’s injunction will remain in place.
