Developer bought 83 acres near Yosemite for $4m; US weighs land swap for road
A Nevada-based developer is lobbying for a land swap with the National Park Service to build a private road through Yosemite National Park. The proposed road would provide easier access to an 83-acre property, sparking a long-standing debate over private development within protected federal lands.
Why it matters
This case tests the boundaries of federal land management and the influence of private developers on protected national parks.
A Nevada-based developer is seeking a land exchange that could allow a private road to be built through Yosemite National Park, giving access to an 83-acre property just outside the park. The Trump administration is considering the proposal, according to documents and people familiar with discussions KQED reported.The property is owned through limited-liability companies operated by Kingsbarn Realty Capital. The company bought the undeveloped 83-acre plot for $4 million in 2024. The land, historically known as Hazel Green Ranch, is located outside Yosemite’s western boundary, about five miles from one of the park’s giant sequoia groves.Kingsbarn CEO Jeff Pori wants to build a short road linking the property to a road inside Yosemite. The proposed route would cross a roughly quarter-mile strip of National Park Service land.
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