Story perspectives

Interior Considers Yosemite Land Swap for 1.1 Acres

9/3/2026

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Interior Department is considering a land swap that would give 1.1 acres of Yosemite to Kingsbarn Realty Capital.
Kingsbarn plans to build a short road across the park to connect the 83-acre Hazel Green Ranch parcel.
The company bought two 40-acre parcels near Yosemite in February 2024 for $4 million through Sanctuary at Yosemite.
Conservation groups say the swap would break the precedent set by the 1864 Yosemite Grant Act.

History

Historical Context

The Yosemite Grant Act of 1864, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, set aside 1.3 million acres as the nation’s first protected wilderness. Congressional records show the act created Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove, establishing a federal stewardship model later echoed in the 1916 National Park Service. Today, the Interior Department’s proposed 1.1-acre swap with Kingsbarn Realty Capital threatens that legacy by carving a road through Yosemite for the 83-acre Hazel Green Ranch. If approved, the deal could undermine the 1864 precedent, prompting legal challenges from the Sierra Club, National Parks Conservation Association, and local tribes.

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Story summary

The U.S. Interior Department is considering a land swap that would give 1.1 acres of Yosemite to Kingsbarn Realty Capital.
Kingsbarn plans to build a short road across the park to connect the 83-acre Hazel Green Ranch parcel.
The company bought two 40-acre parcels near Yosemite in February 2024 for $4 million through Sanctuary at Yosemite.
Conservation groups say the swap would break the precedent set by the 1864 Yosemite Grant Act.

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