California’s desert is a magical place and nowhere is that more obvious than when visiting the ethnic diversity of the little town of Borrego Springs. While there is a plethora of things to do and see in this desert area, one experience that stands above all others is checking out the 130 metal sculptures dotting the town’s dusty landscape.
Ricardo Breceda, a renowned metal artist, created all the sculptures, including life size prehistoric creatures, elephants, camels, sloths, llamas, horses, pigs, sheep, tortoises, and a huge dragon. Called the Galleta Meadows sculptures, these freestanding sculptures were a gift from town benefactor Dennis Avery and most sit on his private parcels in the Galleta Meadows area of town.
The first sculpture was installed in 2008 and most are based on renditions from a book called “Fossil Treasures of the Anza-Borrego Desert.” Using metal, scrap reinforcement bars, and wire to fashion these unwieldy creatures, Breceda pounds the metals together with hammers to create the final product.
It is also interesting to note that fossils found in this area do reveal that some of the prehistoric renditions might have been a reality in the location during the Pliocene-Pleistocene and Miocene era some three million years ago.
Also added more recently to the sculpture collection are life-like renditions of humans including Mexican explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and field workers who worked the land picking grapes back before the United Farm Workers Boycott in the 1960s.
How do you find these larger than life sculptures? It’s easy since viewing is free and all are easily accessible from Borrega Springs Road, north and south.
For more information on the sculptures, and to check out the town of Borrego Springs.
On a side note, take some extra time to spend the night in Borrego Springs since driving around and visiting the sculptures takes all day. A recommendation and perfect place to relax is Borrego Valley Inn located in the desert. Offering a rustic elegance, two pools, and rooms furnished in authentic Southwestern/Mexican décor. In the evening, you can also sit on your private patio and truly enjoy the multitude of stars you will see on a clear desert night.