Aerial shot of U.S. Flag looking north over Montgomery Barracks with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

Presidio Fact Sheet

The Presidio Trust is a model of fiscal responsibility and innovative stewardship of one of America’s most visited national park sites.

Two men and a dog walking in front of two women talking at the Presidio Tunnel Tops with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

An Innovation in Government

The Presidio Trust is a federal government corporation that manages the Presidio, a national park site within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The Trust is responsible for the day-to-day management and long-term stewardship of the Presidio of San Francisco, in partnership with the National Park Service.

The unique powers granted to the Presidio Trust – in the 1996 law that created it – enable the Trust to operate with the financial flexibility and efficiency of a private enterprise. That law also requires the Trust to retain and use all profits it earns for a clear public purpose – to keep the Presidio open and free as a national park site for all.

Effective Self-Sustaining Business Model

The Trust achieved total earned revenue of $182M in fiscal year (FY) 2024.
100% of the Trust’s $58M net operating income is reinvested into the park.
The Trust has generated more than $350M in net operating income since the agency stopped receiving annual appropriations in 2013.

A City Within a City

Today, the Presidio Trust maintains:

Electrical, wastewater, drinking water, and telecom infrastructure

34 miles of roads, as well as a free park shuttle

53 miles of sidewalks and trails

1,000 acres of landscapes, forest, and native plants

Hundreds of historic buildings that honor America’s heritage

Successful Businesses Fund a National Park Site for All

In total, due to the Presidio Trust’s unique ability to earn revenue and participate in public/private partnerships, the Trust has generated over $1.1B in value to taxpayers since it stopped receiving annual appropriations in 2013.
The Presidio Trust generates income primarily by renovating and leasing former Army buildings as homes and workspaces for businesses. The Trust also operates a public golf course and two hotels. Additional revenue is earned from utility charges, parking fees, and special event permit fees.
Every dollar earned is used to operate and improve the park.

Exterior shot of a line of three townhouses in the Presidio.

Commercial Leasing

The Presidio Trust rents 2,300,000 square feet of commercial space to about 300 businesses. The average occupancy rate is 96%.
In FY 2024, the commercial leasing program earned $49 million in revenue.

Residential Leasing

The Presidio Trust generates revenue by renting more than 1,400 housing units, with an average occupancy rate of 96%.
In FY 2024, the residential leasing program earned $67 million in revenue.

Hospitality (Golf and Lodging)

In FY 2024, the Trust’s hospitality portfolio including two hotels and a historic golf course earned $23 million.
Readers of Condé Nast Traveler ranked both the Inn and the Lodge among the top 10 hotels in San Francisco in 2024.

One of America's Most Visited National Park Sites

With 9.5M+ annual visits, the Presidio is consistently among the most visited national park sites in the country, drawing more visits than Yosemite or the Grand Canyon combined.
Visitors enjoy Golden Gate views, trails, camping, and restaurants.
The park is home to Fort Point National Historic Site, eight monuments and memorials, and a public heritage gallery at the park’s oldest building, the Presidio Officers’ Club.
Generations of soldiers served in the Presidio, and 30,000 – including 450 Buffalo Soldiers – are buried at the San Francisco National Cemetery in the Presidio.
In 2024, the Outpost nature playground welcomed 337,000 children, and the Field Station served 143,000 guests. These facilities are highly valued by school groups and summer camps.
In 2024, 160 youth groups brought 7,000 children to Presidio Tunnel Tops.
The Presidio’s Rob Hill Campground offered a national park camping experience to 13,500 people in 2024.

Questions? Contact Us.

Lisa Petrie
Presidio Trust Media Relations
lpetrie@presidiotrust.gov
(415) 561-5424 (office) | (415) 264-7787 (mobile)

Lyndsey Tillinghast
Communications & Community Relations Specialist
ltillinghast@presidiotrust.gov
(628) 213-4122 (mobile)

Looking south at the Main Parade lawn from the Campfire Circle at the Presidio Tunnel Tops on a sunny day with many people outside.