The Trump administration is considering a land exchange that would transfer a small parcel within Yosemite National Park in California to a private developer, according to federal officials and documents reviewed by reporters. The proposal aims to facilitate access to the park for development projects owned by Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a private real estate equity firm.
Kingsbarn, which acquired two 40-acre properties adjacent to Yosemite's western boundary in early 2024 through a company called Sanctuary At Yosemite, plans to build a road connecting the development to the park. The proposed land swap would involve Kingsbarn transferring land of equal value—either near Yosemite or elsewhere in California—to the National Park Service in exchange for the park parcel necessary to complete the road. The plan intends to allow the construction of an upscale development of cabins, homes, and commercial buildings.
The idea has sparked concern among conservationists and former park officials who warn that Yosemite, one of the nation’s most iconic and visited national parks, should remain protected from commercial development. Don Neubacher, a former Yosemite supervisor, criticized the swap as a misguided proposal reminiscent of a similar initiative rejected in the early 2000s through both administrative and legal challenges.
Kingsbarn’s chief executive, Jeff Pori, has also contributed to former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, donating over $4,000, according to finance records. Lanny Davis, representing Kingsbarn and a Washington lobbyist formerly advising President Bill Clinton, defended the plan, arguing that the shortcut road enabled by the land transfer would reduce pollution by shortening access routes within the park. He noted that the company had initially sought to purchase the land outright but was told a swap was the only legal option. Davis said that negotiations with park officials have been ongoing for two months and the proposal is nearing completion.
Interior Department officials confirmed the proposal is under consideration but stressed no final decision has been made. Aubrie Spady, a department spokeswoman, emphasized that any land exchange involving National Park Service lands would be subject to federal laws, environmental reviews, and public notification processes.
Earlier this year, the Interior Department notified Congress it might use funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to cover costs related to the exchange. This drew criticism from California’s Democratic senators, Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, who condemned the move as misusing funds intended for conservation and public recreation. Padilla described the administration’s actions as corrupt and vowed to work with the Senate Appropriations Committee to block the proposal.
Cicely Muldoon, Yosemite’s former superintendent, questioned the public benefit of the swap and expressed concerns about the precedent it could set for other national parks and historic sites. She pointed out that land exchanges in national parks traditionally aim to enhance public resources, such as expanding wildlife habitats, but that the current proposal’s merits remain unclear.
The contested parcel lies near Yosemite’s Big Oak Flat entrance along California State Route 120 and has been at the center of development disputes since the late 1990s. A prior attempt to gain private access through park land by developer Lewis Geyser, who proposed a resort nearby, was blocked after lengthy litigation culminating in a 2012 federal court ruling against the easement.
Since Kingsbarn’s 2024 acquisition, the company sought renewed access permissions but was initially denied by Yosemite officials, including Muldoon. However, following the political shift in Washington with Trump’s return to office in 2025, Interior Department political appointees began revisiting the land swap proposal, making it a stated priority.
The fate of this potential land exchange remains uncertain as debates continue over balancing development interests with preserving Yosemite’s natural and cultural heritage.