US Government Considers Selling Yosemite National Park Land to Donor-Linked Developer

The Trump administration is reportedly considering the sale of a roughly 400-meter-wide strip of land within the iconic Yosemite National Park to a private real estate firm. The developer, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, based in neighboring Nevada, acquired approximately 35 hectares of land bordering the park in 2024.

According to reports, Kingsbarn's CEO, Jeff Pori, aims to construct a road connecting this privately owned land to one of the main thoroughfares within the national park. This would grant the private property privileged access. In exchange, the National Park Service would reportedly receive an equivalent parcel of land elsewhere in California, the location of which is yet to be determined.

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no final decision has been made

The U.S. Department of the Interior has acknowledged that negotiations are underway but stated that "no final decision has been made." The department assured that any decision would be made without political pressure, following all necessary environmental reviews, and with public input.

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attack on the American people, to whom the national park belongs

Kingsbarn Realty has not yet commented on the proposed transaction. However, U.S. election records indicate that CEO Jeff Pori has frequently donated to the Republican Party and organizations that fundraise for Donald Trump's campaigns.

Conservation groups have voiced strong opposition. Mark Rose, a representative for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), called the potential sale an "attack on the American people, to whom the national park belongs." The union representing Yosemite National Park employees expressed its "dismay" at the prospect of sacrificing public land for private interests, deeming it "anti-ethical."

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dismay