Judge Declines To Close Camp Mystic, But Bars Construction On Campus Hit By Flooding

AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas judge connected Wednesday declined to afloat adjacent Camp Mystic — nan tragic epicenter of nan July 4 floods that inundated nan Texas Hill Country past twelvemonth — but prevented nan portion of nan campy wherever nan deadly flooding occurred from being altered.

Judge Maya Guerra Gamble heard grounds successful a packed Travis County courtroom connected a impermanent restraining bid and injunction petition revenge by Will and CiCi Steward, nan parents of 8-year-old Cecilia "Cile" Steward, a camper who died successful nan flooding.

Gamble granted a impermanent injunction barring nan all-girls summertime campy on nan Guadalupe River from altering aliases remodeling immoderate building wherever campers were housed during nan tragedy.

She besides ordered that nan aged Guadalupe grounds, wherever nan fatal flooding occurred, beryllium sealed off, including nan commissary, rec hallway and main office. However, areas extracurricular of those grounds tin proceed pinch construction.

Twenty-five girls, 2 counselors and Camp Mystic's proprietor were killed successful nan historical flooding successful Kerr County that swamped nan camp. Cile’s assemblage has not been recovered.

Over 130 group successful nan region died successful nan catastrophe.

Will and CiCi Steward, whose 8-year-old daughter, Cile Steward, was swept distant successful nan flood astatine Camp Mystic.Ilana Panich-Linsman for NBCNews

The Stewards, who revenge a suit against nan owners of nan campy and nan restraining bid past month, had asked that Camp Mystic not reopen this summertime to campers and that building and remodeling beryllium halted to sphere grounds astatine nan site.

In their filing, nan Stewards based on remodeling and building is already underway, moreover arsenic nan hunt for their daughter’s assemblage is ongoing.

“This exertion for injunctive alleviation seeks to sphere nan position quo and protect worldly grounds base connected really and why Cile Steward mislaid her life while entrusted to Defendants’ care,” their filing said.

Gamble's ruling will beryllium successful spot while nan couple’s suit is pending.

Camp Mystic did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

The tribunal room was packed Wednesday pinch family members of victims.

Edward Eastland, head of nan Guadalupe campy astatine nan time, testified arsenic a witnesser for nan defense. He told nan that tribunal immoderate buildings person since been repaired and remodeled.

Questioned astir nan tragedy, he said nan children didn’t person walkie talkies successful their cabins, and said nan campy had information cameras but nary 1 was watching nan provender successful nan mediate of nan nighttime erstwhile nan flooding began.

Brad Beckworth, nan lawyer for nan Stewards, said pursuing nan hearing: "Our exertion for a restraining bid was granted successful its entirety."

"The only limitation astatine each to it is really we’re going to woody pinch commercialized activity connected nan different broadside of nan camp," he continued. "But to beryllium clear, what nan tribunal has ruled is that nan Guadalupe River broadside of Camp Mystic will not beryllium reopening immoderate clip soon until we get done nan correct evidentiary process towards trial.”

Will Steward praised nan judge's decision, saying: “It was important to cognize that nan judge understood, and nan tribunal understood, that what we’re trying to do is sphere nan grounds that’s location truthful we tin understand, truthful early campers will ne'er beryllium put successful a business for illustration this again."

Mikal Watts, lawyer representing Camp Mystic and nan Eastland family, which owns nan camp, said he was "thrilled" pinch nan judge's decision.

“She agreed that nan grounds of nan Guadalupe River should beryllium preserved, conscionable for illustration we offered to … Part of what we’re doing is moving coming connected nan structural separation to support kids distant from Guadalupe River while they’re attending campy this summertime astatine Cypress Lake. We agreed to do that,” he said.

Watts said location are 853 campers arsenic of yesterday signed up to be this summertime astatine Mystic's Cypress Lake location, which it has described arsenic independent from nan older Guadalupe camp.

In announcing its reopening plans in December, Camp Mystic said it has taken steps to heighten information including installing flood monitoring units.

Last week, families of 9 victims of nan Camp Mystic floods sued nan state, claiming it grounded to enforce a request that nan campy person an removal plan.

Also past week, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick sent a missive urging nan Texas Department of State Health Services commissioner to contradict nan campy a licence to run until “all legislative investigations are complete and immoderate basal corrective actions are taken.”

In consequence to Patrick's letter, Camp Mystic said past week that its Cypress Lake location is “in compliance pinch each aspects of nan state’s caller campy information laws.” It noted that nan Cypress Lake tract is not adjacent to nan Guadalupe River and “sustained nary important harm from nan historical flood connected July 4.”