As wildfires and floods batter national parks, a developer says it’s negotiating for a piece of Yosemite

In recent months, national parks across the country have faced a series of catastrophic events, including wildfires and flooding. The Grand Canyon, for instance, was recently ravaged by floods, which triggered search and rescue operations and caused damage to nearly 40% of its sole water pipeline. Yosemite National Park is also feeling the effects of these natural disasters, as it is battling wildfires and has closed Highway 140.

According to recent reports from CNN and NOTUS, a private developer named Kingsbarn Realty Capital is negotiating with the National Park Service to acquire a 700-foot stretch of land within Yosemite National Park. The developer aims to build a road to a parcel of land adjacent to the park, which would provide access for guests and residents of Hazel Green Ranch, a 83-acre property owned by Kingsbarn.

Hazel Green Ranch has a historically significant past, serving as a stagecoach route into Yosemite during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

While the National Park Service has stated that there is no political pressure to reach a predetermined outcome, any land exchange or access proposal involving National Park Service lands must comply with federal laws, regulations, and departmental policies. This includes undergoing environmental review and public notification processes.

Kingsbarn Realty Capital has been pursuing this deal for nearly a year, seeking a way to legally acquire the land through an exchange, rather than a direct purchase, which is not permitted by the Department of Interior.