Yosemite Land Swap Could Create Private Park Entrance

A private equity firm is seeking a land swap to build a private road into Yosemite National Park. The proposal would allow Kingsbarn Realty Capital to construct an access road from its 83-acre Hazel Green Ranch directly into the park, creating an exclusive entrance.

Several outdoor groups and politicians have denounced the plan. The Yosemite Union, the National Parks Conservation Association, and both California Senators oppose it. Climber Alex Honnold called it "the epitome of selling the future to cash out in the present."

Conflicting Accounts and Confirmed Talks

The Department of Interior denied working on a land swap, calling the NOTUS story a manufactured political narrative. However, about ten hours later, Kingsbarn's lawyer, Lanny Davis, confirmed negotiations. He stated he had been working with National Park Service staff at Yosemite for the last six months to provide safe access from the Hazel Green property.

Kingsbarn CEO Jeff Pori told the Washington Post the Department of Interior referred him to NPS staff during a meeting last year. Pori said the Hazel Green parcel is being appraised, a necessary step before the NPS can identify land to gain in exchange. He confirmed plans for a project similar to a previous owner's vision of a 150-room hotel and 80 private cabins.

The Property and Its History

The 83-acre Hazel Green Ranch sits about 600 feet west of a spot on Big Oak Flat Road known as the Hazel Green Dip. Ken Yager, founder of the Yosemite Climbing Association, lived and worked there as a caretaker from 1997 to 1999. He opposes paving a road through the forest. "An access road would destroy the wildlife and destroy the area," Yager wrote. He is concerned about the precedent, suggesting it is part of an effort to privatize national parks.

Previous owner Lewis Geyser bought the ranch in 1998 intending to build an upscale resort. He once offered the NPS spillover parking on his property, which would have required an access road. When the NPS rejected his offer in 2000, he lost his potential shortcut. Geyser later sued the NPS and DOI in 2007 for the right to use two old stagecoach routes to reach the park. His legal efforts failed by 2012. A county official said at the time that Geyser likely believed his resort project was not viable without road access.

Geyser sold the ranch for $4 million in 2024 to an LLC controlled by Kingsbarn Realty Capital. The firm's website shows a $2.8 billion portfolio and has dubbed the LLC "Sanctuary at Yosemite."

Impact on Park Access and Operations

A private road would transform the property's value and create an exclusive access point. Currently, three private tracts exist within Yosemite-Wawona, Foresta, and Aspen Valley-but all are enclosed by park land, requiring residents to use public entrance gates. Hazel Green is already accessible from forest service roads outside the park.

With a shortcut, future resort guests could bypass crowded public gates to reach the Valley floor. Even many NPS employees commute from outside the gates. If the park charged these guests an entrance fee, a downsized NPS workforce would need to staff a sixth entrance booth. "There’s no reason to make more of these private rich communities inside the park," said Yager. "Everyone should be able to visit the park on their own terms."

Legal Hurdles and Next Steps

It is unclear if the land swap requires Congressional approval. A DOI spokesperson said an exchange might not need a congressional appropriation if the proponent covers all costs. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff have signaled opposition.

The swap may face legal challenges. Former NPS Director Jon Jarvis said it "cannot be done" and a good court challenge would likely agree, citing the Redwood Act of 1978. This law requires NPS actions to be conducted for the highest public value, potentially arguing the swap must benefit the Park Service, not only a private entity.

The project would require a public comment period and an environmental study. Public opposition failed to stop the Oak Flat land swap in Arizona, which was included in a must-pass federal law. The Yosemite proposal is not yet binding and can still be rejected by the NPS. Yager warns that giving away "even a tiny piece" of Yosemite would set a precedent for other businesses to pursue similar swaps in national parks with less visibility.