Controversial Island Turned 'Death Trap' Seized and Restored

As of November 14, 2025, a private island off the coast of San Francisco that was previously owned by John Sweeney has been seized and purchased by the John Muir Land Trust for $3.8 million. Sweeney, the former owner, was hit with a staggering $4.6 million fine - the largest ever handed out by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board - for allegedly damaging the island's delicate ecosystem.

Sweeney had turned the island, known as Point Buckler, into a posh kitesurfing club for billionaires in Silicon Valley. He built various structures on the island, including helicopter pads, toilets, a lounge, and even mowed the grass, all of which the authorities claimed destroyed the natural habitats.

Now, the John Muir Land Trust, a nonprofit conservation organization, is taking on the task of restoring the island. According to the trust's Executive Director, Linus Eukel, the island "should be a refuge" for small fish, but instead, it has become "a death trap." The trust is currently fundraising to cover the cost of the cleanup, which will involve removing the unauthorized structures and re-establishing the tidal flows that are crucial for the island's ecosystem.

The trust is hopeful that once the restoration is complete, they will be able to open the island back up to the public. However, for now, they will be using helicopters and barges to help remove the debris left behind by the previous owner.