ArcMap 10.6 "write" a layer file

I want to create a group layer (or similar) of many raster files that only display when I tick them. They must not all be displaying when I make the layer, or my standard office entry level machine will crash.

I will need to recreate this "layer" as files are moved around and new ones are found on the network.

So I am after tricks for

• a quick way to get them all into one "layer"
• but with each raster being unticked/not showing so my machine does not crash

I have collected the list of 100 odd raster file paths in a text file. Can I easily turn this into some kind of text file that imports into ArcMap and it displays the list of grids without any being ticked to display? A text file with something wrapped around each file address, such as XML?

It does not matter if it converts into the ESRI binary format of a layer file. Making a large layer without dragging and dropping images is more important.

Added 10/9/2020

Follow Michael Stimson suggestion, I tried the following

import arcpy

mxd_path = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxd_path)

text = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1)

layer_path = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2)
lyr = arcpy.mapping.Layer(layer_path)

df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd)

log = open(text + ".log", "w")

f = open(text, "r").readlines()
for filepath in f:
    log.write(filepath)
    newlayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer(filepath)
    arcpy.mapping.AddLayerToGroup(df, lyr, newlayer)

lyr.save()

The only failure is AddLayerToGroup. The UNC network address successfully creates a layer and I even isolated to check the lyr.save line works by itself.

Error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "K:Tim KProgram ResourcesArcGISArcgis10.1GridsToLayer.py", line 22, in <module>
    arcpy.mapping.AddLayerToGroup(df, lyr, newlayer)
  File "c:program files (x86)arcgisdesktop10.6arcpyarcpyutils.py", line 182, in fn_
    return fn(*args, **kw)
  File "c:program files (x86)arcgisdesktop10.6arcpyarcpymapping.py", line 87, in AddLayerToGroup
    assert isinstance(data_frame, DataFrame)
AssertionError

Failed to execute (GridsToLayer).

I suspect the problem is in the AddLayerToGroup help where it states the layer I want to add to the group layer must be "a layer file on disk or a layer file in a map document". That would mean copying the raster files to new disk location and converting each into layer. I was hoping to simply reference where they are now. That location may change a bit each week a few files pass through a QA/QC "process" by others.

It looks like I want an unmanaged Raster Catalog, which references files instead of copying to a gdb. But, can it reference a workspace for every raster?

Turns out yes, but its not displaying the rasters, just polygons where they are located.

See answer below – changed to making an mxd of rasters.

import os, sys, arcpy

FileOfPaths= r'E:TestingDataPaths.txt'
OpenDoc    = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument('CURRENT') # reference to the current document
FocusFrame = OpenDoc.activeDataFrame              # and the active data frame

with open(FileOfPaths,'r') as InFile:
    for Line in InFile:
        NewLay         = arcpy.mapping.Layer(Line) # data path makes new layer
        NewLay.visible = False
        NewLay.name    = os.path.splitext( os.path.basename(Line) )[0] # the name for this data source
        #arcpy.mapping.AddLayerToGroup(FocusFrame,NewGL,NewLay)# use this if you have a group layer 
        arcpy.mapping.AddLayer(FocusFrame,NewLay)# use this if you don't
        del NewLay