A federal judge signed an order on Nov. 2 that appoints two independent fiduciaries to oversee the most critical decisions for Camp Mystic, a long‑standing summer camp in Texas’ Hill Country. The move comes as the camp, owned by the Eastland family, navigates Chapter 11 bankruptcy and a wave of lawsuits filed by families who lost daughters in the July 2025 flood that devastated the region.
Independent managers take control
Mark Andrews, a seasoned business manager, has been named the independent manager of Camp Mystic, LLC. Retired Judge Craig A. Gargotta will serve as the independent director of Natural Fountains Properties, Inc., the entity that holds the camp’s real estate. Together, Andrews and Gargotta now have exclusive authority over how the camp handles pending litigation, whether to sell assets, and how to respond to a Texas Rangers investigation into the flood’s aftermath.
Why the court intervened
The Eastland family voluntarily agreed to the appointment rather than risk a court‑appointed trustee taking over the entire operation. The judge found that the family’s involvement presented conflicts of interest, particularly because the lawsuits center on families who lost daughters in the flood. While the court made no finding of wrongdoing by any Eastland family member, it determined that an independent oversight structure was necessary to protect the integrity of the bankruptcy process and to ensure fair treatment of claimants.
Limits on the Eastland family’s role
Under the order, the Eastland family cannot remove the independent fiduciaries. Only the court may do so, and only for serious misconduct such as fraud or gross negligence. All major actions—including any potential sale of the camp’s property, the final bankruptcy plan, and the handling of the flood‑related lawsuits—remain subject to court approval.
Impact on the community
Camp Mystic has been a fixture of the Hill Country’s summer recreation scene for decades, providing outdoor experiences for thousands of children and families. The flood not only caused tragic loss of life but also left the camp’s facilities severely damaged. The bankruptcy filing and the court‑ordered oversight aim to stabilize the camp’s finances while addressing the legitimate claims of grieving families.
Local residents and former campers have expressed mixed feelings. Some see the independent fiduciaries as a necessary step to ensure accountability and to move the camp toward a sustainable future. Others worry about the uncertainty surrounding the camp’s operations and the potential loss of a cherished community institution.
Next steps
The court will continue to monitor the fiduciaries’ actions, and any major decisions will be reviewed in future hearings. The Texas Rangers investigation into the flood’s causes and the camp’s response remains ongoing, adding another layer of scrutiny to the process.
For families still seeking closure and compensation, the appointment of independent fiduciaries offers a clearer path forward, free from perceived conflicts of interest. As the bankruptcy case proceeds, the community will be watching closely to see whether Camp Mystic can emerge from this crisis and continue to serve future generations.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
