Galleta Meadows Sculptures
Galleta Meadows Estate is privately owned desert estate land that consists of many separate plots in Borrego Springs, California and that features over 130 large metal art sculptures. The sculptures were created by Southern California artist Ricardo Breceda via commission from Dennis Avery, of the Avery Label fortune and the owner of Galleta Meadows. Mr. Avery located the sculptures on land he purchased for conservation.
Galleta Meadows is unfenced and open to the public for visitation, including hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, photography, and bicycling every day of the year. Borrego Springs is a village completely surrounded by the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest state park in California.
The Galleta Meadows metal sculptures have different themes. The largest theme appears to be of prehistoric animals, including dinosaurs. Other themes have a connection to the desert environment in which they are located, such as desert animals, including scorpions and bighorn sheep. There is also at least one religious sculpture of a priest carrying a cross through the desert. There is also an approximately 350-foot-long dragon that gives the illusion of it snaking into and over top the desert sand.
Ricardo Breceda is an artist most well known for his large metal sculptures of animals. He was born in the town of Villa Unión in the state of Durango, Mexico, but now resides in Aguanga, California. He is unmarried and has two daughters, Lianna and Arabi. He originally worked as a cowboy boots salesman and a construction worker, but a construction accident caused him to leave the latter job. He made a metal sculpture of a Tyrannosaurus rex for his daughter Lianna after she asked for a dinosaur for Christmas following a viewing of Jurassic Park III.
He continued work on sculptures, and was eventually discovered by a philanthropist named Dennis Avery who paid him to construct one piece. Avery then allowed Breceda to build more than 100 sculptures on his property at Galleta Meadows Estate. The sculptures are based on beasts found in a book that depicts now-fossilized creatures in the Anza Borrego Desert as well as mythological creatures. Notable statues made by Breceda include a stagecoach pulled by horses, a large serpent, and a Tyrannosaurus rex.
Where it is:
The Galleta Meadows Sculptures are located in Borrego Springs California, or should I say all around Borrego Springs. You will need a vehicle to travel the many dirt roads on which the sculptures are located, some will have soft sand. Borrego Springs is also the in the center of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
The sculptures are not located in just one area, they can be found both north and south of downtown Borrego Springs. They are easy to spot as you drive along Borrego Springs Road.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
Here is a Google Map created by another user of the locations of the sculptures, thanks to Erin McNeaney for creating and sharing this map.
Cost:
There is no cost to visit the Galleta Meadows Sculptures.
Hours:
Facilities:
There are no facilities at the sculptures (they are spread-out in the desert), but there are all facilities in the Town of Borrego Springs.
Galleta Meadows Sculptures Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in California
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
Great Places for Great Photos
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Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
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