IF the money was going to maintain the park, then "$10 for a chance to get in, or $10,000 to buy your way in" sounds relatively unobjectionable. It's not like the current Congress is likely to raise taxes on the rich.
Compared to how it is now, it would be better, which is a low bar.
But perfect is the enemy of good, so if a price tag $10,000 meant some rich bought their way in and a good chunk of normal people got in anyway, that's effectively a tax on rich people, so I'm for it. (Of course, you'd spin it differently so rich people can pose as doing something for the environment and whatnot.)
Yep. "Special VIP access for Mount Gibbs tier and higher-tier 'Yosemite Club' Members...exclusive events...". The usual classy-looking plaques & such around the park, informing mere mortals of the names of the park's uber-green benefactors.
Side benefit - when Congress is doing its annual budget fight, the National Parks Service can remind certain members that lots of donation-giving wealthy people care a lot about the National Parks.
Of course, lots of private and non-profit organizations have memberships, subscriptions, VIP tickets that let bigger spenders at least cut in line. It seems a bit more distasteful when the government does it though, of course, it happens in all sorts of more subtle ways. Generally speaking, so long as the general public still has reasonable access, it seems mostly harmless so long as the incremental funds go to the organization.
