The Cumberland Island Land Exchange: NPS Proposals, AJC Reporting, and What’s Next
View the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s article on NPS’s Land Exchange plan below.
By Adam Van Brimmer and Jennifer Peebles. Published July 7, 2026.
Learn More About the Land Exchanges Below
The Short Version:
The National Park Service has proposed four land exchanges on Cumberland Island that could move federal land into private ownership. The NPS says the exchanges would consolidate parkland and steer development away from sensitive areas. Wild Cumberland opposes all four: the deals were negotiated behind closed doors, key details like maps, acreage, and valuations have never been disclosed, and the proposed homesites sit next to Wilderness and Potential Wilderness. Nothing is final. A federal environmental assessment is expected in fall 2026, and public comments on the first two proposals are open September 9–October 16, 2026.
