Episode 481
They Want a Private Road Through Yosemite?
There's a report the administration is looking at giving a private developer an easement through about a quarter-mile of Yosemite so they can build a private road to 83 acres they own next to the park. The plan would be a land-for-land swap — park officials would trade equal-value land elsewhere in California — and Interior says no final decisions have been made and any deal would need legal and environmental review. I think that idea walks right over 150 years of precedent that says national parks are supposed to be public trust, not fancy driveways for rich folks who want a glamping cul-de-sac. Naturally my brain immediately goes to valet parking at Half Dome and a $32 trail-mix flight — cuz of course. I do a dumb Teddy Roosevelt ghost test in my head: would he come back and yell "nope"? Spoiler: probably. Also, we busted out the ghost-of-John-Denver bit because if we're gonna protest, might as well have a toe-tapping protest anthem about private roads through sequoias.
Takeaways:
- I'm furious-sorta: the government might let a developer build a private road through Yosemite, trading park land for 'equal value' parcels — and that idea feels totally wrong.
- We joke about luxury glamping and trailhead kombucha bars, but seriously, Yosemite is public trust, not a billionaire's driveway.
- Interior says no final decision yet and any swap would face federal law and environmental review, which could block it.
- I did a goofy bit — the ghost of John Denver protesting private roads — and it's our playful protest anthem.
- We argued the national parks belong to everyone, and giving up Yosemite land would break 150 years of precedent.
Transcript
Good morning.
Speaker A:Haystack here.
Speaker A:There is a report out that the administration has been looking at a deal to give a private developer access through part of Yosemite National Park.
Speaker A:Now, this idea involves about a quarter mile strip of Yosemite land, possibly just an easement, that would help a developer to build a private road to the 83 acres that it owns next to the park.
Speaker A:Officials are proposing that the Park Service would give up land or interest in land for an easement and return.
Speaker A:In return, they would get land of equal value somewhere in California.
Speaker A:That yet to be determined.
Speaker A:Now, if this deal goes through, the administration will be breaking with 150 years of American precedent at the birthplace of the National Park System.
Speaker A:The federal government has historically strived to expand crown jewel national parks, not give up land within them.
Speaker A:The idea for the national parks started with Yosemite, with Abraham Lincoln's preservation of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa grove of giant sequoias.
Speaker A:And the Interior Department says no final decisions been made.
Speaker A:And they say no political pressure is involved.
Speaker A:And they say that any deal would have to follow federal law and environmental review.
Speaker A:That's a fair caveat, sure, but emotionally, this is still pretty radioactive.
Speaker A:The national parks are one of the few things that most Americans still mostly agree on.
Speaker A:And Yosemite is not just some empty lot behind Dollar General.
Speaker A:It's Yosemite, it's Half Dome, El Capitan, giant sequoias, family road trips, overpriced gift shop sweatshirts, the idea of standing somewhere beautiful enough to make everybody shut up for just a few seconds.
Speaker A:So when people hear the phrase private developer and rode through Yosemite, they don't think efficient land exchange.
Speaker A:They think, oh great, here comes luxury glamping with a valet and a $32 trail mix flight.
Speaker A:Now, maybe the deal is legal, maybe it's not.
Speaker A:Maybe it dies in review, maybe it goes nowhere.
Speaker A:But it has struck a nerve because national parks feel like public trust, not a shortcut for some rich people's real estate.
Speaker A:The whole land swap idea sounds reasonable at first, but then you go, are we swapping irreplaceable Yosemite land for, I don't know, something in California called parcel be near a vape shop?
Speaker A:Maybe, maybe, maybe so.
Speaker A:But rich people have private jets and private islands and private schools.
Speaker A:Can they not just leave the public rocks alone?
Speaker A:Every national park deal, I think, should have one simple test.
Speaker A:Would Teddy Roosevelt come back as a ghost and yell, actually, now that I think about it, maybe another ghost should come back and release an album to raise awareness and funds to protect the national parks.
Speaker A:For generations, America's parks have belonged to all of us.
Speaker A:The mountains, the rivers, the trees.
Speaker A:But now, as private developers look at public land and whisper, that would make a great driveway.
Speaker A:One voice returns from beyond the great campfire in the sky, introducing the ghost of John Denver's greatest hits, Private Road.
Speaker B:In the grove in Yosemite.
Speaker B:They don't belong.
Speaker B:National parks don't give up land to these roads.
Speaker B:Private Road.
Speaker A:And the ballot with concerns about luxury zoning, sunshine.
Speaker B:On their easements makes me angry.
Speaker A:Plus you'll get another toe tapping instant protest classic.
Speaker B:Well, the guy from private jets and the guy from private islands and I think we should all get together and fight them.
Speaker B:Seems obvious the park service should deny them.
Speaker B:We don't want no other boys, no, no.
Speaker A:Order the ghost of John Denver's greatest hits today and help protect the parks from becoming luxury glamping cul de sacs with trailhead kombucha bars.
Speaker A:This album is not available in stores because technically neither is a quarter mile of Yosemite.
Speaker B:Get back on in jet plane.
Speaker B:We don't want you coming back again.
Speaker B:Please hurry up and go.
Speaker A:The ghost of John Denver's greatest hits Public Land Privateers acoustic guitars Sam.
