Galleta Meadows

Scattered in the area around Borrego Springs are life-size metal sculptures of prehistoric animals that once roamed the Borrego Valley as well as mythical creatures and scenes of human life in the valley.  These rusty-metal works of art are beautifully detailed and are posed in “action” positions which make them seem almost alive.  They roam in an area known as Galleta Meadows.

Most of the animal sculptures are from various prehistoric periods but there is also a giant eagle and a huge, 350-foot serpent-like dragon that seems to have slithered beneath Borrego Springs Road.  It is spectacular and is one of the most popular sculptures of all.  Every time we’ve visited, there is a sizable crowd out admiring it.  It is a must-see.    

There are also some non-animal sculptures such as the large group of farm workers and a jeep crawling over some rocks.

All of the sculptures were created by one artist, Ricardo Breceda of Temecula, California, but his labor, material and the land they now sit on was all paid for by philanthropist Dennis Avery.

Since the first one was erected in 2008, the sculptures have been a big hit in the Borrego Springs area.  Not only can the various creatures be seen around Galleta Meadows, but other people enjoyed Breceda’s sculptures so much that you’ll see them in people’s front yards and at various hotels and resorts around Borrego Springs.

Galleta Meadows isn’t just one place.  The sculptures can be found along the road both north and south of downtown Borrego Springs.  Most of the sculptures are along Borrego Springs Road with a majority of them about 2-3 miles north of Christmas Circle between Bighorn Road and Henderson Canyon Road.  The others are located about 4-6 miles south of Christmas Circle in the area after Borrego Springs Road makes a sweeping 90 degree turn from south to east.

The sculptures are easy to see as you drive down the road in the open desert.  To get a closer look, park your car safely off the road and walk out to the sculptures.  For the sculptures that are a distance from the pavement (some are clustered together), look for dirt roads that will take you closer.

Galleta Meadows was created by Dennis Avery who is one of the heirs to the Avery Label fortune.  He was already a philanthropist in the San Diego area when, in the early 1990s, he purchased 3,000 acres around Borrego Springs to prevent potential overdevelopment of the area.

In 2008, Avery got the idea to display what he called “sky art” on these vacant stretches of preserved desert land.  His vision was to build metal sculptures of prehistoric creatures that once roamed the Anza-Borrego area and so he commissioned artist Ricardo Breceda.  Breceda, who lived in Perris, California, was known for creating large, rusted metal statues.  Between 2008 and 2012, metal creatures began popping up on Avery’s preserved parcels.  Avery called them Galleta Meadows Estates and he opened his land for the public to enjoy.

Sadly, Avery passed away in 2012 but he was able to see his dream come to life as the last sculptures were installed just before his passing.  Breceda has since moved his studio from Perris to Temecula and has garnered a lot of fame from his work for Avery. There are now more than 130 sculptures on the Galleta Meadows land and they have become quite a popular tourist attraction.