William had left home at the age of 8 or 9 and worked for the 71 Quarter Ranch and as a horse wrangler at Pony Express stations in Wyoming.

Mabel's parents had established the successful Hat Ranch near Split Rock and had significant resources to assist the young couple.

The Dorr's properties were not contiguous, and the present ranch house on Woody Creek was not built until 1915.

From about 1929 the property was leased and sold to a series of companies associated with the Dorrs, apparently to cover financial trouble.

[2][3] The ranch includes the 1925 main house, two 1915 log cabins, a stable, corral, windmill, cistern and the site of the schoolhouse.