Texas Camper’s Family Files Lawsuit to Close Camp Mystic Amid Ongoing Search
The family of an 8-year-old girl, Cecilia “Cile” Steward, who remains missing after being swept away by flooding in Hill Country last summer, is taking legal action against the owners of Camp Mystic. They are demanding that a judge prevent the camp from reopening.
The lawsuit, which spans 100 pages, was filed by Cile’s parents, Catherine and Will Steward. This marks the fifth lawsuit from family members of the 25 campers and two counselors who tragically lost their lives during the catastrophic flooding on July 4. The group, referred to as “Heaven’s 27,” was part of the more than 130 individuals who perished in the disaster. Each of the five lawsuits, including the Stewards’, seeks over $1 million in damages.
Named as defendants in the lawsuits are Camp Mystic and the Eastland family, who own and operate the camp. Richard “Dick” Eastland, the camp operator at the time of the flooding, also lost his life in the disaster. The Stewards’ lawsuit criticizes the camp, asserting that its Christian summer camp ethos “masked a reckless disregard for the lives of the children entrusted to their care.”
Furthermore, the suit alleges that the camp’s emergency instructions were not compliant with Texas administrative code, were negligently crafted, lacked an evacuation plan, and required campers to remain in their cabins during the flood. In response to the disaster, state lawmakers enacted several laws aimed at enhancing safety requirements for camps located in flood-prone areas.
“Cile was taken from us 7 months ago, and while we recognize this lawsuit will not bring her back, we feel compelled to ensure the truth of Camp Mystic’s failures are exposed,” the Stewards stated.
In addition to seeking damages, the Stewards are requesting a temporary restraining order to prevent the camp from reopening until the lawsuit is resolved. Camp Mystic announced plans to reopen one of its sites just two months after the flood, a decision that the families of the deceased campers condemned. The Stewards described the Eastlands’ choice to reopen the camp as “tone deaf,” claiming it constituted intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Although Cile is still officially classified as a missing person, the lawsuit states that she is “presumed to be deceased.”
The Stewards’ lawsuit also draws parallels between the July 4 flood and previous flooding incidents in Camp Mystic’s history, particularly one in 1932. They argue that the 2025 disaster “was essentially a repeat” of earlier floods, which should have prompted the camp to implement more stringent safety measures.
In response, Camp Mystic attorney Mikal Watts stated that camp officials disagree with the “misinformation” regarding their response and the Eastland family’s actions. He emphasized their intention to demonstrate in court that the flooding was unexpected and unforeseeable.
“In the meantime, we remain proud of the legacy of Camp Mystic and its role in forging strong, young Christian women across Texas,” Watts said. “We will continue to focus on implementing new procedures and technologies to ensure the safety of Camp Mystic and the surrounding community for all who come in the future.”
This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune.
Interested in Lawsuits?
Get automatic alerts for this topic.
The family of an 8-year-old girl, Cecilia “Cile” Steward, who remains missing after being swept away by flooding in Hill Country last summer, is taking legal action against the owners of Camp Mystic. They are demanding that a judge prevent the camp from reopening.
The lawsuit, which spans 100 pages, was filed by Cile’s parents, Catherine and Will Steward. This marks the fifth lawsuit from family members of the 25 campers and two counselors who tragically lost their lives during the catastrophic flooding on July 4. The group, referred to as “Heaven’s 27,” was part of the more than 130 individuals who perished in the disaster. Each of the five lawsuits, including the Stewards’, seeks over $1 million in damages.
Named as defendants in the lawsuits are Camp Mystic and the Eastland family, who own and operate the camp. Richard “Dick” Eastland, the camp operator at the time of the flooding, also lost his life in the disaster. The Stewards’ lawsuit criticizes the camp, asserting that its Christian summer camp ethos “masked a reckless disregard for the lives of the children entrusted to their care.”
Furthermore, the suit alleges that the camp’s emergency instructions were not compliant with Texas administrative code, were negligently crafted, lacked an evacuation plan, and required campers to remain in their cabins during the flood. In response to the disaster, state lawmakers enacted several laws aimed at enhancing safety requirements for camps located in flood-prone areas.
“Cile was taken from us 7 months ago, and while we recognize this lawsuit will not bring her back, we feel compelled to ensure the truth of Camp Mystic’s failures are exposed,” the Stewards stated.
In addition to seeking damages, the Stewards are requesting a temporary restraining order to prevent the camp from reopening until the lawsuit is resolved. Camp Mystic announced plans to reopen one of its sites just two months after the flood, a decision that the families of the deceased campers condemned. The Stewards described the Eastlands’ choice to reopen the camp as “tone deaf,” claiming it constituted intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Although Cile is still officially classified as a missing person, the lawsuit states that she is “presumed to be deceased.”
The Stewards’ lawsuit also draws parallels between the July 4 flood and previous flooding incidents in Camp Mystic’s history, particularly one in 1932. They argue that the 2025 disaster “was essentially a repeat” of earlier floods, which should have prompted the camp to implement more stringent safety measures.
In response, Camp Mystic attorney Mikal Watts stated that camp officials disagree with the “misinformation” regarding their response and the Eastland family’s actions. He emphasized their intention to demonstrate in court that the flooding was unexpected and unforeseeable.
“In the meantime, we remain proud of the legacy of Camp Mystic and its role in forging strong, young Christian women across Texas,” Watts said. “We will continue to focus on implementing new procedures and technologies to ensure the safety of Camp Mystic and the surrounding community for all who come in the future.”
This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune.
Interested in Lawsuits?
Get automatic alerts for this topic.
