Park Service Proposes Swap for Eight New Homes on Cumberland Island

The National Park Service has proposed a land exchange that would permit the construction of up to eight new private residences on Cumberland Island in Georgia. The plan involves trading federal land currently designated as wilderness for private parcels owned by descendants of Thomas Carnegie. If approved, the move would alter the development restrictions on one of the largest barrier islands along the Atlantic coast.

Cumberland Island National Seashore covers roughly 9,800 acres of land that Congress designated for permanent preservation in its primitive state in 1972. The island features salt marshes, maritime forests, and beaches accessible only by ferry. It also contains historical sites, including Spanish mission remnants and plantation ruins. The Carnegie family built opulent homes there in the late 19th century. Today, family members still live and vacation on private sections of the island.

Park Superintendent Melissa Trenchik defended the proposal during media tours of the west side of the island. The specific area targeted for the swap overlooks Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay and a large salt marsh. Trenchik stated that the goal is to consolidate private ownership on the west side. This consolidation would allow the park to manage and interpret natural and cultural resources more effectively on the Atlantic beachside. The Park Service received more than 12,500 public comments on the plan.

Under the terms of the proposal, the eight new homes would be subject to permanent conservation limits. They could not exceed 35 feet in height. Trenchik described the structures as modest. However, critics argue the scale is much larger. Joseph Manning, an attorney with Defenders of Wildlife, noted that the allowance includes 15,000 square feet of total area, covering driveways and outbuildings. Manning called the proposal a swap for McMansions. He characterized the deal as part of a broader trend by the Trump Administration to privatize public lands.

Barclay McFadden, a great-great-grandson of Thomas Carnegie, is involved in one of the land deals. He rejected the characterization of his family as modern-day robber barons. McFadden pointed to a family cemetery on the island where five generations are buried. He stated that the island is a sacred place for his descendants. McFadden argued that his family has acted as stewards of the land. He noted that his grandmother's generation refused to sell to developers in the 1970s, preventing the island from becoming a golf course.

Jamie Ferguson, a cousin of McFadden, is not directly involved in the current swap but co-owns a Carnegie mansion now operating as the Greyfield Inn. Ferguson described the family as a widespread network united by the location. He argued that the Carnegie presence is part of the island's cultural history. He believes the swap could improve visitor access to The Chimneys, a site of brick and tabby chimneys from an earlier plantation era where enslaved workers lived.

Carol Ruckdeschel, an ecologist and resident of the island for over 50 years, opposes the plan. She described the proposal as an affront to the public and the Park Service. Ruckdeschel is concerned that the swap will lead to greater development. She noted that the Park Service also plans to double daily visitation to 700 visitors. She believes the island should remain a pure primitive wilderness where nature reclaims former plantation fields.

Ruckdeschel observed a pair of wood storks descending into the marsh grass during a recent survey. She continues to check the beaches for stranded sea turtles and new nests every Friday morning. She views the rewilding of the maritime forest as an exciting climax stage. She expressed a desire for the entire island to return to nature as the human presence diminishes.