Trump's Team Is Trying to Hand Yosemite Land to a Private Firm

The Trump administration is weighing a land exchange that would hand a slice of Yosemite National Park to a private real estate firm, according to new reporting, reviving a development fight that federal courts already rejected more than a decade ago.

At the center of the proposal is Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a Las Vegas-based real estate private equity firm that purchased an 83-acre parcel just outside the park's western boundary in 2024 for $4 million. The company controls the proposal through a limited liability entity called Sanctuary at Yosemite.

What the Deal Would Involve

Under the plan, the federal government would transfer a small parcel just inside Yosemite's western boundary to the developer. In exchange, the company would purchase land of equivalent value elsewhere in California and donate it to the National Park Service.

Kingsbarn's goal is to build a private access road along the Hodgdon Meadow to Crane Flat corridor, connecting its own land to the park's main visitor areas. The firm has also proposed developing two 40-acre parcels near the park boundary.

A Familiar Fight

This isn't the first time a version of this plan has surfaced. A prior owner pushed a similar proposal in the early 2000s, and it was rejected both by the National Park Service and later by a federal court in 2012, which found the Park Service lacked the authority to approve the exchange. Kingsbarn revived the idea after acquiring the land in 2024.

Former Yosemite Superintendent Don Neubacher, who oversaw the park during the earlier fight, didn't hold back in his reaction to the renewed push. "This is so ridiculous, it makes you sick," he said, adding that it amounts to "another nightmare for the National Park Service and Yosemite specifically."

Interior Department Response

The Interior Department has pushed back on characterizations of the proposal as a done deal. Spokesperson Aubrie Spady said any land exchange or access proposal involving National Park Service lands "would be subject to all applicable federal laws, regulations, and Departmental policies, including required environmental review and public notification processes," and stressed that no final decision has been made.

Details of the proposal were shared with Congress earlier this year. Lawmakers declined to endorse it for federal funding, though the Interior Department has reportedly floated using the Land and Water Conservation Fund to help finance the exchange, a move that has drawn criticism from Democrats who say the fund was intended for conservation purposes, not development deals.

Opposition From Lawmakers and Advocates

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said the administration appears "hellbent on moving forward in the face of opposition from the public, Congress, and the courts."

The National Parks Conservation Association was similarly blunt, stating that "the public expects parks protection, not developers scheming to sell Yosemite," and calling the proposal "absurd." A union representing National Park Service employees has also come out against ceding public land for private development.

Advocates argue that any land exchange involving park property must demonstrate a clear benefit to the government, a standard they say this proposal fails to meet. Given the outcome of the 2012 court case, opponents expect the plan to face renewed legal challenges if it moves forward, along with the possibility that Congress could still block funding.

What Happens Next

For now, the proposal remains under review, with the Interior Department maintaining that any exchange would go through standard environmental review and public comment. Given Yosemite's status as one of the most visited national parks in the country, any development near its main entry corridors is likely to draw sustained attention from conservation groups, lawmakers and the public as the process unfolds.

Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.