Texas State University Senior Journalism Capstone Project
July 4 flood survivor Dan Schoen gestures to the destruction at Paradise River Bend after the July 4 floods on Oct. 4, 2025. Schoen clings onto the lone surviving hammock. Photo by Sidney Orman
By Abrielle Kate Maddison
Uba13@txstate.edu
INGRAM, Texas–– Dan Schoen –owner of an outdoor wedding venue and family vacation spot- often visits across the road to this once-pristine retreat surrounded by trees just a few yards from the Guadalupe River.
All that is left is the concrete slab that once served as the floor of his popular wedding venue and the once regal 40-foot cypress trees now bent over where raging flood waters destroyed everything in a path nearly a mile wide.
“The roof's gone, the beam's broken in half, gigantic boulders; they're all sitting over there now—they used to be up there,” Schoen said, pointing to the top of his wedding pavilion bordering the Guadalupe river. “And I came here and this hammock was just a happy camper.”
The Morning of the Flood
On July 4, 2025, a record flood tore through Kerr County and majorly affected surrounding cities including Kerrville, Hunt and Ingram, killing 137 people according to NBC 5. Schoen, owner of Paradise River Bend, bought this Ingram, Texas property in 2002 and it quickly became a favorite location for weddings and vacation rentals on Airbnb and VRBO. On this particular holiday weekend, his cabins were full as guests (including his family) were in town to enjoy the popular Independence Day festivities.
On July 4 at 4:00 a.m., he looked out his window to find the water had risen past the wedding pavilion, which is elevated about 30 feet from the Guadalupe river, on his river-side property, which sits across the street from the guest cabins and his personal residence.
“So at 4:00 in the morning, I'm thinking, okay, it's going to be okay,” Schoen said. “This is a lot of rain, but it's handling it. We're going to be all right.”
Schoen’s land had been through floods before, and water reaching past the pavilion was nothing new to him.
'People's in Water'
Schoen quickly resigned to an acceptance of the loss of kayaks and other river equipment and mentally prepared for a debris clean up first thing in the morning.
However, not even 15 minutes later, Schoen was awoken by his 93-year-old mother alerting him to the rising water level outside.
“She says, ‘Dan, there's water outside,’” Schoen said. “I said, ‘what?’ She says, ‘people's in water.’”
The Paradise River Bend property is an area with a steady increase in elevation. It starts at the river with the wedding venue, then extends across the road and up to the rental cabins and Dan’s personal cabin.
Every cabin was built above the 500-year flood plain, but, on July 4, the water didn’t stop rising until it was right below Schoen’s front porch.
“And so you have to understand, within 15 minutes, the water had risen 20 feet,” Schoen said.
Rescuing the Residents
As told by his friends and family, Schoen jumped into action immediately and spent the following weeks searching for missing people and helping anywhere he possibly could.
“He made sure first and foremost everybody was taken care of,” said Grace Hyatt, Schoen's daughter. “He checked his Airbnbs and everybody was safe.”
There was a woman in a camper on his property who had issues walking.
He described in detail watching her being pulled by the water like a wet towel as he held on tightly.
He was able to get her out of the water and safely transfer her to his cabin.
“I am probably more stable than maybe some who did it,” Schoen said, referencing his unique background. “I've certainly seen death and all that type of stuff.”
A Bedrock of Faith
When Schoen was four years old, his missionary parents took their family to the South American country, Suriname, and spent the next 15 years of their life living with the indigenous peoples of this jungle region.
The family learned and created a written version of the language and Schoen’s father, Ivan, translated the Bible so the Suriname people could have a Bible in their own language.
"That aspect of him (Schoen) that could continue to trust and have faith when things get difficult, knowing those experiences where God delivered their family over and over, kept him safe all those years and provided for them,” said Hart Simpson, longtime friend and business partner of Schoen. “I think that's kind of a bedrock for him.”
The constant rapids of the Guadalupe river are a reminder of Schoen’s home in Suriname, and he has been back to visit many times, often bringing friends with him.
"Living on the Guadalupe was him getting a little piece of home,” said Greg Powell, longtime close friend of Schoen. “Many times when I go out there. We sit in the hammocks, you know, in the pavilion by the river and we talk, light a bonfire, and we listen to the river and sometimes we kayak on it.”
Texas State University senior Abrielle Kate Maddison interviews July 4 flood survivor Dan Schoen under the remains of his pavilion at Paradise River Bend after the July 4 floods on Oct. 4, 2025. Schoen clings onto the lone surviving hammock. Photo by Jennifer Merrill
Rebuilding
Having this land since 2002, his children and their children have been able to enjoy it.
This land has known picnics, parties, long conversations and baptisms.
“Seeing it the way that it is (destroyed) was really hard, especially since my dad just takes care of everybody else,” Hyatt said. “So, it was really hard to see that for him.”
Schoen's son, Christian, has been planning to be married on the land, and his plans have not changed.
“Even though it's wrecked, it's still sentimental,” said Christian Schoen, Schoen’s son.
Being a tranquil spot of peace for many, including himself, Paradise River Bend has suffered greatly in the wake of this natural disaster.
Despite nearly losing his business, Schoen’s main goal that day, and ever since, has been to help and console other victims, his daughter said.
“Ever since the flood, I mean, he doesn't talk about his own losses when it comes to finances or property,” Hyatt said. “He talks about the victims because there were quite a few victims near and on the property. So, he's just very selfless about it. He knows that life is imperfect and that things are going to happen. And we don't always know why.”
To learn more about the effect of the July 4 flood on areas near Schoen's property, read this story by Texas Monthly.