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California Lawmakers and Conservationists Oppose Proposed Private Land Exchange in Yosemite National Park

A bipartisan group of 61 California state legislators, led by Assemblymember Greg Wallis, has called on the administration to halt a proposed land exchange in Yosemite National Park. The deal would allow a private developer, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, to build a new access road from its 83-acre property to the park's main attractions. Kingsbarn Realty Capital owns the property, known as Hazel Green Ranch, which is currently a 25-mile drive from the park's entrance. The proposed road would significantly shorten the travel distance. While the developer's attorney, Lanny J. Davis, argues the move is pro-environmental, many critics argue that the park's land belongs to the public. The administration announced that no final decisions have been made yet, and the Department of the Interior stated there has been no political pressure to reach a predetermined outcome. However, the proposal has sparked sharp criticism from Democratic leaders, national park advocates, and rock climber Alex Honnold. Critics argue that ceding public land for private profit is a move that runs against the founding principles of the National Park Service.

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