Yosemite land proposal reported
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Trump administration proposes land exchange giving Yosemite strip to Kingsbarn Realty. Conservation groups and Democrats oppose, citing broken park protection pledges.
Background
The Trump administration has been working since spring 2025 to arrange a land exchange that would give a Nevada-based company tied to Kingsbarn Realty Capital an easement or interest in a roughly quarter-mile strip of land inside Yosemite National Park. In exchange, the Park Service would receive land of equal value elsewhere in California. The proposal has drawn opposition from conservation groups and Democratic lawmakers who see it as a betrayal of the park's legacy and contradictory to pledges by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and President Trump to protect public lands.
How it unfolded
- Spring 2025Trump administration begins exploring ways to cede a strip of Yosemite land to Kingsbarn Realty Capital.
- 2024A Kingsbarn-controlled LLC purchases undeveloped land outside Yosemite for $4 million, calling it 'Sanctuary at Yosemite'.
- Aug 28, 2026NOTUS reports on the proposed land exchange, sparking opposition from conservation groups and Democratic lawmakers.
Who’s saying what
- Critics
- Conservation groups and Democratic lawmakers call the proposal a betrayal of Yosemite's 150-year legacy and a contradiction of pledges to protect public lands.
- Administration
- Interior Department spokesperson says no final decisions have been made and any proposal would follow federal laws and procedures.
Still unverified
The specific terms of the land exchange, including the exact location and value of the land to be received, have not been publicly disclosed. Kingsbarn Realty Capital did not respond to requests for comment.