Yosemite is one of America's great national treasures. I believe our National Parks belong to all Americans and should be protected for future generations.

I am concerned that transferring National Park land to facilitate access to a private development could set an important precedent. Before any irreversible transfer occurs, I believe the public deserves transparency, and Congress should have the opportunity to fully review the proposal and exercise its authority under federal law.

Kingsbarn Realty Capital, owner of an approximately 83-acre private property adjoining Yosemite, is seeking an exchange involving approximately 1.1 acres of federal land that would provide direct vehicle access from its property to a highway inside the park.

This access issue has a history. The property's previous owner, Hazel Green Ranch LLC, asserted easement rights over alleged county roads leading toward Yosemite Valley. The federal district court dismissed those claims, and the Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal in 2012.

Kingsbarn acquired the property in 2024. Its CEO, Jeff Pori, has acknowledged meeting with the Department of the Interior in 2025 about access and participating in subsequent discussions with National Park Service personnel.

The administration later submitted the Yosemite proposal to congressional appropriators for possible FY2026 consideration. The bipartisan Senate appropriations leaders responsible for reviewing those projects did not include Yosemite among the projects they agreed should advance; Senator Jeff Merkley specifically objected to the proposal.

Interior nevertheless says the proposal remains under consideration, while emphasizing that no final decision has been made and that any concrete proposal would be subject to federal law, public comment and environmental review.

That is precisely why Congress and the American public should have the facts before any Yosemite land is transferred.

During his January 16, 2025 Senate confirmation hearing, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said of national parks:

“Absolutely we need to support and protect every single inch of those.”

We agree.

WHAT WE ARE ASKING
We call on Congress and the Department of the Interior to ensure that no Yosemite National Park land is transferred, exchanged, or otherwise conveyed to facilitate this private development until Congress has fully reviewed the proposal and exercised any approval, oversight, or other authority provided by federal law.

Congress should determine:

• Who initiated and authorized consideration of this proposal?

• What communications occurred between Kingsbarn and federal officials?

• What law authorizes the proposed transfer, and is congressional approval required?

• Why does the proposal remain under consideration after bipartisan Senate appropriations leaders declined to advance it?

• What public benefit justifies transferring National Park land to facilitate access to private property?

Sign this petition to ask Congress to protect Yosemite through transparency, public review, and congressional oversight before an irreversible land transfer occurs.

TAKE ONE MORE ACTION
1. CONTACT YOUR OWN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Contact your own U.S. Representative and your two U.S. Senators. As their constituent, ask them to support congressional review of the proposed Yosemite/Kingsbarn land exchange by the congressional committees responsible for oversight of our National Parks:

U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, particularly its Subcommittee on National Parks

U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, particularly its Subcommittee on Federal Lands and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

You can send this simple message:

“Please ask the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and House Natural Resources Committee to review the proposed Yosemite/Kingsbarn land exchange before any National Park Service land is transferred. Yosemite belongs to all Americans.”

2. HELP US BRING THE PETITION DIRECTLY TO CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT LEADERS
As this petition reaches significant signature milestones, we will bring the petition and its growing number of supporters directly to the bipartisan congressional leaders responsible for National Park and federal-land oversight.

Our goal is simple: make sure Congress knows how many Americans are asking it to act before an irreversible transfer occurs.

VERIFY THE FACTS
Federal court record — Hazel Green Ranch, LLC v. U.S. Department of the Interior​

Official U.S. Senate record — Doug Burgum confirmation hearing​

The Washington Post — “What the developer behind the Yosemite land swap wants to build”​

Federal law — 16 U.S.C. § 51

 

Protect Yosemite. Get the facts. Require congressional review before the land changes hands.