What do you say we drive out to the desert and find life size metal sculptures pop- up all over the barren land? Sure!
Drive through the roads that weave through the area – you’ll see sculptures of wild horses in a nearby field, sabertooth tigers in pursuit, and desert tortoises that seem as if they’re crawling through the brush. The artist, Ricardo Breceda, brought life to his sculptures by capturing each creature in motion.
Getting to Anza Borrrego
Head to Anza Borrego Desert State Park- a California State Park located within the Colorado Desert of Southern California, United States.
Anza Borrego is only a 2.5-hour drive from LA and a 1.5-hour drive from San Diego. If you are driving from LA or San Diego, you will want to proceed down S22 into the valley that houses Anza Borrego. For about 17 miles, you will be driving scenic, mountainside.
We opted to put Christmas Circle, Borrego Springs on our GPS as Christmas Circle is the main hub in the middle of the city. Borrego Springs is the gateway to Anza Borrego Desert State Park. It is in Borrego Springs, specifically GAlleta Meadows, where these art works are located. Once we reach the circle, had to run for much needed bathroom break, then off to find a place for brunch.
There was Red Ocotillo restaurant that serve breakfast, lunch and dinner but a little bit crowded for us. After circling around we ended up with Los Jilberto’s Taco Joint. It’s right off Palm Canyon road- the main road in Borrego Springs. Dined outside, surrounded by beautiful scene and perfect weather. They serve good mexican food with a lot of choices and big portions.
After we had our tummies full, we headed back where came from to find the Visitor Center. If you are arriving from S22, turn left at the Palm Canyon Road for the Visitor Center. We initially turned right for the Christmas Circle.
I advise to always start from the visitor center. Anza Borrego visitor center, built underground for cooling efficiency, if it’s your first time visiting any state park. Get maps, learn everything you want from the park and surroundings. Bring hard copies of maps or screen shot the details of your drive. Limited mobile signal in the valley.
There’s a 10$ fee to visit Anza Borrego State Park (if you want to hike Palm Canyon (the volunteer highly recommended it), and do other stuff inside the park), but free to go through the Borrego Springs estate.
After the visitor center, now we hunt for these pieces or artwork all over Galleta Meadows. We took Borrego Springs Road and ended up in the south area towards Yaqui Pass Road. This area has the lesser number of sculptures compared to the main area in the north. The south has the horses, saberwolf, giant eagle, t-rex, etc..
The owner of Galleta Meadows Estate, Dennis Avery, wanted to add a bunch of free-standing artworks to his massive property. He commissioned Ricardo Breceda to do just that.
To find Breceda’s 130 or so rust-red, scrap-metal sculptures, pick up a detailed map at the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association bookstore in Borrego Springs or ask for free from Anza Borrego visitor center.
While some creatures are ambitious fantasies, such as a 350-foot-long serpent arcing across the playa, but many of the sculptures represent real-life creatures that once roamed this land.
If you decide to stay, we found several spring fed pools and resort. https://business.borregospringschamber.com/list/QL/restaurants-food-beverages-21
The Desert Sands Vintage RV Trailer Park, is a cool place to check out vintage RV units https://desertsandsrvpark.net/.
The bulk and the main sculptures are located on the northern part of the Galleta Meadows. From the Christmas Circle, if you are coming from Palm Canyon Drive Visitor Center, make a roundabout all the way to the the Borrego Springs exit (the 4th exit). About 2 miles drive, you will have already spotted some of the art works.
Within the bulk, you’ll find the scorpion and grasshopper gearing to fight. mammoth, giant tortoise, camel, the farmers. A mile forward, you’ll see the Serpent. The body stretches out to the other side of the road.
Drive around where you can spot the art pieces or park on the road and walk or bike towards them. Caution: they are sparsely installed all over the vast desert. That is to say, you will do a lot of walking or biking in the heat and wind and sand.
You can drive you 4X4 within the desert. However you still can drive slow and steady on a sedan or an SUV to get to the art installations.
It took us 2 hours to drive around and check on most of these cool, intricate structures. The details being put into each work is worth all the compliments.
Drive another mile north to reach The Padre, the Jeep, The Goldminer and its horse, Bighorn Sheep, The Indian Head, ancient elephant , etc…
While we did not find all of them, we covered the more popular ones. Worth a day trip to the desert.
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