In Yosemite, a private access project sparks outrage.

Could a private road cut through part of Yosemite National Park? The National Park Service is in talks with Nevada-based real estate developer Kingsbarn Realty Capital about a land swap to improve access to a property on the western edge of the California park.

Revealed by the American media outlet NOTUS, the project has sparked strong opposition from environmental groups, park employee representatives, and several Democratic elected officials. They all fear it will set a precedent by allowing a private interest to benefit from privileged access to one of the most protected natural areas in the United States.

A road to serve a 34-hectare property

Kingsbarn Realty Capital controls an undeveloped parcel of approximately 34 hectares located near Yosemite. Acquired in 2024 for four million dollars, this property is currently served by a long, winding road that crosses land managed by the Forest Service.

The developer wants to build a shorter road directly connecting the site to one of the park's main roads. According to NOTUS, the project could take the form of transferring a narrow strip of land or granting a right-of-way easement.

In return, the federal government would receive another parcel of land of equivalent value, located in California and yet to be determined. Lanny Davis, a lawyer for Kingsbarn Realty Capital, asserts that this transaction is permitted under federal law and would not reduce the park's total area.

He also presents the new road as an environmentally friendly solution, as it would shorten travel time to reach the property and thus reduce associated emissions. Nature conservation groups dispute this analysis and warn of the potential consequences of the construction on the landscape, wildlife, and the risk of wildfires.

The Interior Ministry assures that no decision has been made.

The US Department of the Interior acknowledged that discussions were taking place, while clarifying that no final decision had been made.

Should the project proceed, it would be subject to the procedures provided for by federal law, including an environmental assessment, coordination between the relevant administrations and public information.

The operation would also require an appraisal of the land located in Yosemite and the designation of a property that could be incorporated into the federal domain in exchange. These steps could make the process lengthy and complex.

Similar projects have already been rejected.

The creation of a road to this property is not a new demand. Its former owner, developer Lewis Geyser, had already tried to obtain direct access through Yosemite during the administrations of George W. Bush and then Barack Obama.

The National Park Service ultimately rejected the project. Lewis Geyser initiated legal proceedings in 2007, before losing at first instance and then on appeal in 2012. The judges notably ruled that the federal government was not obligated to authorize a new road since access to the property already existed.

The acquisition of the land by Kingsbarn Realty Capital in 2024 revived the project. According to NOTUS, discussions between the developer and officials from the Home Office began shortly after the acquisition.

The developer's political ties raise questions.

The controversy is also fueled by the alleged professional and political connections of Jeff Pori, managing director of Kingsbarn Realty Capital. According to information published by NOTUS, he made several donations to the Republican Party, Donald Trump's campaign, and associated political committees starting in 2024.

The media outlet also reports on business relationships between his company and companies linked to individuals close to the administration. However, these elements alone do not demonstrate that they influenced the federal authorities' handling of the project.

Yosemite defenders denounce privatization

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) strongly opposes the proposed land swap. Mark Rose, head of its Sierra Nevada program, believes that such a transaction would amount to transferring part of a public asset to a private developer.

The union representing park employees also expressed dismay at the project, which it considers contrary to the protection mission entrusted to National Park Service agents.

California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, for his part, called for Yosemite to be protected from any new real estate development. He pointed out that the access project has already faced administrative and legal rejections.

A park facing high visitor numbers

Opponents fear that this road will encourage the development of new private accommodations on the park's edge and increase tourist pressure. The NPCA believes that Yosemite is already overcrowded, a situation it says will be exacerbated by the elimination of the vehicle reservation system in 2026.

The park welcomed nearly 4,28 million visitors in 2025, ranking it fifth among the most visited U.S. national parks, according to the National Park Service.

Protected since 1864 by a federal law intended to preserve Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove giant sequoia forest, the area occupies a foundational place in the history of American natural space conservation. This heritage dimension explains the particular attention paid to a project whose precise characteristics, impacts, and land-related compensations are still to be defined.