Just like the other19th century ranches in Harney County, Oregon, the Sod House Ranch used to be under the management and ownership of the cattle baron Pete French. It used to be a part of the operations of the French-Glenn Livestock Company before French’s murder in 1897. Like other ranches in the area, the land was purchased by the US Government so they can expand the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

The Sod House Ranch still has a number of its original structures which people can visit while in the wildlife preserve. A total of eleven historic structures stand in the site today, eight of which are ranch originals. Most of the buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and are restored fully, while others are still being worked on today.