US News
Interior Department denies report of proposed land exchange inside Yosemite National Park
A media report claimed officials explored granting park land to a developer for a road, drawing pushback from lawmakers and environmental groups.
The short version
- A report by media outlet Notus claims National Park Service staff and Interior Department officials explored giving a quarter-mile parcel of Yosemite land to Nevada-based developer Kingsbarn Realty Capital.
- The developer reportedly seeks to build a private access road connecting its adjacent 83-acre property to a main park route.
- The Interior Department denied the report, stating there is no political pressure or secret plan, and noting that no final decisions have been made.
- California lawmakers and environmental groups have publicly opposed any proposed transfer, while the Interior Department stated any future action would require environmental review and public notice.
Key facts
- Media outlet Notus reported that federal officials explored a land exchange to grant a quarter-mile Yosemite parcel to developer Kingsbarn Realty Capital for a private access road.[The Guardian]
- Kingsbarn Realty Capital acquired an 83-acre undeveloped property bordering Yosemite National Park in 2024.[The Guardian]
- Interior Department spokesperson Aubrie Spady called reports of secret efforts to hand over park land false and denied any political pressure to dictate an outcome.[The Guardian]
- California's two U.S. senators, Representative Jared Huffman, and the group Save Our Parks voiced strong opposition to the alleged land transfer proposal.[The Guardian]
- The Department of the Interior stated that any formal land exchange or access proposal must undergo public notification and federal environmental reviews.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the Interior Department or National Park Service actively pursued or approved plans to exchange Yosemite land for private development, given the department's firm denial of the reporting.[The Guardian]