It was established in 1990 when the Nature Conservancy (TNC) purchased 9,269 acres (37.51 km2) and leased the land back to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for management.

One additional 162-acre (0.66 km2) tract was purchased by the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) and turned over to the Service in 1991.

A 260-acre 16th section tract is leased from the West Bolivar School Board bringing the total land base to 9,691 acres (39.22 km2).

The refuge is the largest remaining tract of bottomland hardwood-forested wetlands in the northwest portion of Mississippi.

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.