A year after the deadly Hill Country floods, the River Inn and Conference Center in Hunt, Texas, is showing signs of recovery. The July 4, 2025, floods caused significant damage to the property, destroying first-floor units and leaving massive boulders and debris in the section of the Guadalupe River that runs along the property.
Rebuilding Efforts
General manager Scott Towery said he is looking toward the future while reflecting on the events of that tragic morning. "We should start construction around August, early September," Towery said. Recent progress includes a weeks-long dredging project completed by the Texas Department of Emergency Management, which removed debris and massive rocks deposited by the flood.
On the morning of the floods, people staying at the resort were forced to flee to higher ground as water poured into their rooms. Towery, his wife Connie, and one of the unit owners went door to door to wake everyone up. Many people were able to drive out of the parking lot and into a nearby neighborhood to wait out the storm.
Dozens of others, however, were blocked from the neighborhood by rising waters and stayed in vehicles parked on State Highway 39. As floodwaters continued to climb, bedsheets were tied together and used as makeshift rescue ropes to help people reach safety.
The cleanup effort that followed was unlike anything Towery had ever experienced. Asked whether he ever considered walking away from the resort altogether, Towery did not hesitate in his response. "Oh yeah," Towery said. "Right off the bat, I'm like, 'I'm out of here.'" Instead, he decided to stay.
Towery spent 60 consecutive days working 14-hour days as he helped coordinate recovery efforts and begin the arduous rebuilding process. "That 60 days right there changed everything," Towery said. "You really didn't have time to think. You just did."
Future Plans
While rebuilding continues, the River Inn still has a long way to go before it can resume normal operations. Inside some units, exposed studs serve as a reminder that reconstruction remains in its early stages. Towery credits the Hunt Preservation Society with helping connect the resort to resources and people who have played a key role in the recovery efforts.
Even with recent progress, Towery estimates it could be as late as 2028 before rental reservations can resume. In a typical year, approximately 55 of the resort's 60 units are available for guests to book. A year later, the River Inn's recovery stands as both a reminder of the devastation caused by the flood and a testament to the people who refused to give up after it.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
