Trump Administration Considers Sensible Yosemite Land Swap to Boost Access and Economic Growth
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The Interior Department is evaluating a practical land exchange that would allow a Nevada developer to improve access to Yosemite National Park, despite predictable opposition from environmental groups intent on blocking progress.
The Interior Department, under the Trump administration, is responsibly assessing a proposal to swap a small, underutilized parcel of land within Yosemite National Park for another tract elsewhere in California. This common-sense move would allow Nevada-based Kingsbarn Realty Capital to construct a much-needed access road, less than a mile long, to the park’s western entrance. Kingsbarn, which owns the 83-acre Hazel Green Ranch adjacent to the park, would acquire replacement land and transfer it to the National Park Service, ensuring no net loss for the public, according to documents obtained by NOTUS.
A department spokesperson emphasized that no final decision has been made and highlighted that any land exchange would be subject to all federal laws, regulations, environmental review, and public notification requirements. The agency stressed that, should the proposal move forward, it would adhere to established procedures to guarantee transparency and public involvement.
Kingsbarn’s attorney, Lanny Davis, pointed out that the shorter route could reduce vehicle travel and emissions, a benefit to both visitors and the environment. However, environmental organizations like the Sierra Club and the National Parks Conservation Association have predictably condemned the plan, disregarding its potential advantages and clinging to an outdated opposition to any development. They note that a similar road proposal was previously rejected by a federal court, but circumstances and needs change.
The proposal stands out because land swaps involving National Park Service property for private development access are rare, but sometimes necessary for economic growth and improved public access. The Trump administration is carefully considering the legal basis for the exchange. While Kingsbarn’s CEO, Jeff Pori, has made modest donations to President Donald Trump’s campaign, there is no evidence whatsoever linking those contributions to the administration’s consideration of the swap, despite insinuations from critics.