to William "Bill" Hanley who owned land north of the Double-O Ranch. Hanley improved the Double-O property, significantly increased cattle production. He also made the ranch a rustic retreat for his many guests. Bill Hanley William "Bill" Hanley moved to Harney County in eastern Oregon in 1879. Hanley initially purchased land near Burns, Oregon. In 1903, he acquired the Double-O Ranch near Harney Lake for $6 an acre. Over time, Hanley turned it into one of the county's largest cattle ranches, and a showplace for his personal guests who wanted to enjoy the privacy and open space of southeastern Oregon. The Double-O was one of five ranches operated by Hanley. His ranch holdings totaled over of deeded property. His Bell-A Ranch was three miles east of Burns. It only covered , but it was widely regarded as one of the finest ranch estates in the western United States. His Double-O Ranch was over . At the Double-O Ranch, it was from the ranch gate to the front door of the main house. Hanley also had access to thousands of acres of public range land. In 1913, The New York Times reported that Hanley's cattle operation covered . He eventually established the Harney Valley Improvement Company to promote his land interests and encourage the development of Harney County. During the time he was building his ranch empire, Hanley knew the other powerful eastern Oregon cattle barons well. His peers included Peter French, who owned of the vast P Ranch; John Devine, founder of the White Horse Ranch; and Henry Miller, head of the Miller and Lux Company that controlled over of land in California, Oregon, and Nevada. Hanley was a progressive thinker, who became famous for his ranch hospitality. He entertained guests at his Bell-A Ranch or took them to the rustic Double-O Ranch to enjoy the outdoors. His friends included prominent politicians like Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and William Jennings Bryan as well as business tycoons such as James J. Hill, owner of the Great Northern Railway. Hanley also played host to well-known writer CES Wood, poet Edwin Markham, painter Childe Hassam, sculptor Alexander Phimister Proctor, and humorist Will Rogers. In 1914, he ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate as a progressive Bull Moose Party candidate. Malheur National Wildlife Refuge The Malheur Migratory Bird Refuge was created in 1908. Over the years, the refuge grew to encompass around