Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Borrego Springs, California
Friday/Saturday, June 22 & 23, 2018
Clear, 119°
I first heard about Anza-Borrego, several years ago, on my drive from Anchorage, Alaska to Atlanta, Georgia. I had stopped off for a week to visit my friend Russ in Campbell River, British Columbia. He took me to Mt. Washington, a local ski resort that had closed for the season but there was still plenty of snow on top at the lodge and above. While we were there, we noticed a couple loaded with large backpacks heading off into the snow. They saw us shooting photos of my Flamingo, Placido, and stopped on the trail and turned to ask what we were doing. I told them I was on my way back to the south and was camping my way back through Oregon, California, till I made my way home. I take photos of Placido Flamingo in places I visit along the way. I told them I would be stopping for a night at Joshua Tree National Park when they stopped and asked me if I was going to go to Anza-Borrego? I had never heard of it. They told me it was in the desert close to Joshua Tree and there were massive metal sculptures scattered around the desert that were pretty cool to see. There was a large dragon-like sea serpent, dinosaurs, horses plus plenty more to see. That piqued my curiosity and it was then on my list of places to see.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park sign
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP) is park located within the Colorado Desert of southern California. The park takes its name from 18th century Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and borrego, the Spanish word for bighorn sheep. With 600,000 acres that includes one-fifth of San Diego County, ABDSP is the largest state park in California and the second largest in the contiguous United States. The park occupies eastern San Diego County and reaches into Imperial and Riverside counties, enveloping two communities: Borrego Springs, which is home to the park's headquarters, and Shelter Valley. (Wikipedia)
Galleta Meadows Metal Sculptures in Borrego Springs, California
This all began when the owner of the Galleta Meadows Estate, Dennis Avery, (of the Avery Label family) decided he really wanted to add some free standing art to his massive property. He called it “sky art.” Before he got involved with the Sculpture project, Dennis funded a book on the ancient fossil remains found in the area of Borrego Springs. After the book was published he enlisted the help of Ricardo Breceda who began crafting these amazing sculptures and they started to pop up around the desert. Mr. Breceda often claims that he is done creating the sculptures but then another one pops up in the barren landscape making you wonder if there will be more.
The sculptures are off road S22 which goes into the town of Borrego Springs. They are literally found all over the next 10 square miles. The sculptures can be found on both sides of town. The surrounding landscape is so barren it is easy to see them while you are driving.
Horses
Some are right off the road while others are off in the distance. Most have, at least, some sort of dirt road to get to them (be careful driving these, as they can have some deep sandy parts). There are signs saying not to drive on the property but there are tracks all over with many paths leading out to the ones not close to the road. Since Mr. Avery’s passing several years ago, there are no issues with driving out to the sculptures, but the estate does not want anyone to get hurt while viewing the art on the property.
I knew it would be a fun and exciting adventure looking for these sculptures in the desert! The good news . . . this is the coolest scavenger hunt ever. There are over 130 sculptures in Galleta Meadows, each and every one a treasure. The bad (or potentially other good) news . . . there isn't a decent map that I could find. So prepare yourself to driving around, scanning the horizon and watching where other people drive. Be prepared for a few missed turns and backing up to get to that one last treasure. Take plenty of water as this is the desert and depending on what time of year it is you will need to stay hydrated. Make sure you get out of the vehicle . . . the magnitude of the sculptures is only truly appreciated when you are on the sand, standing right next to them. Their size, depth of scale and attention to detail is amazing. This list of art is random in its description and not in any particular order as to what was seen.
The vineyard workers
This was the first group of sculptures encountered. This project that he commissioned with Breceda had a subtle social message: a representation of a dozen farm-workers from the early days when much of Borrego Springs was given over to a vineyard. To tourists and second-home owners flocking to the desert for fun and relaxation, the sculptures were a reminder that, to some people, the desert represented a life of toil in the blazing sun.
Harvesting the grapes
The Sea Dragon
Sea Dragon
This is the one I heard all about in Canada and could only imagine what it must be like lurking and slithering in and out of the sand. The sea dragon, my favorite, is the biggest in sheer size of all the sculptures and it actually crosses the road so it is impossible to miss.
Slithering Sea Dragon
The dragon is really impressive and must be seen to be believed. It rises about 15 feet out of the ground and is 350 feet long. I just wandered down the entire body to see all of the intricacies in its build starting at its tail, then crossing the road to see the sections go in and out of the sand to the massive head, shimmering in the hot sun.
Dragon’s Head
The Scorpion
Scorpion
The scorpion was my second favorite, as it is so detailed and massive. I would say this sculpture is probably about 15 feet tall and 10 feet long. It seems to be in a fight with the grasshopper across from it. I put the RV in the photo between the two for some way to gauge its size but then the 30 foot RV seems tiny with these in the foreground.
Sculptures With RV in background
The Grasshopper
The grasshopper is amazing as well and you should really look at its wings as they are so intricate in the way they are made.
The Mammoths
There are a few mammoths in this field that are probably 20 feet tall and 15 feet long. They are massive and have awesome tusks. There have been a few skeletal remains found of mammoths in this area which would have, no doubt, been crazy to see.
The Camels
Kneeling Camel
The camels are majestic sculptures with unique fur and postures. I find it so crazy the way these characters are in positions, such as the camel kneeling, that seem like it would be a lot more work but makes for an interesting sculpture. You can see in the photo how much attention is paid to even getting the muscle definition on the camel.
There is another camel which is nursing a baby camel with the light and shadows playing off the sculptures.
Camel with baby
The Sloths
Sloth carrying another sloth
I didn’t know what these were until I looked at the map, but the way he made them lying over instead of standing up is an amazing feat. They are designed to look like the Harlan Ground Sloth from the fossil remains that have been found in the area.
Bore & Piglets
One of the many fossils said to have been found in this valley, the turtles are pretty mean looking but are extraordinary to see. There are several sets of turtles scattered on both the north and south locations.
As you drive through the roads that weave through the area, you'll see sculptures of wild horses in a nearby field, saber tooth tigers in pursuit, and desert tortoises that seem as if they're crawling through the brush. The artist, Ricardo Breceda, brings life to his sculptures by capturing each creature in motion. They are so still yet all you see in the pieces, is movement.
Sabre-tooth tiger
Ricardo Breceda got into this quite literally by accident. He was a construction worker who was injured on the job and could not work in his trade any longer. He did several jobs including selling western boots, Ricardo one day traded a pair of boots for a welder and started learning welding. His then six year old daughter, Lianna, when asked what she wanted for Christmas replied, a dinosaur. They had previously gone to see the movie, Jurassic Park III. Ricardo made her a 20 foot tall Tyrannosaurus Rex. What started as a hobby quickly became a passion to transform metal into incredible life like creations. Since then Ricardo has become a well-known sculptor, designer.
The Jeep
Jeep
There is a full size Jeep climbing rocks that is pretty awesome with two people inside. It looks like fun in the desert on a sunny day.
The Padre and his dog
Padre & Dog
Off the road a way, there are several pieces; the over sized Padre and his dog had great detail with stones made into a rosary bead necklace with the dog running at his side.
Horses
Fighting horses
There were many different horses all over the property. Some were running wild while others that appeared very life-like appeared to be fighting.
Miner with his pack horse
Miner with pack horse
I thought the miner panning for gold with his pack horse loaded down was an interesting piece. You could easily imagine the miner on a river with his pan washing out the materials to see what gold lies in the bottom of the pan.
Stagecoach
There are too many pieces of this art to list here and I will post additional pictures on the Traveling Life’s Highways Facebook page shortly.
On a scale of 0 to 10 for an offbeat art exhibit this was a 12 or higher. This was a fun and incredibly creative experience which I highly recommended. This is the desert so you have to prepare a little with water for hydration, good walking or hiking shoes, and remember your safety as this is rattlesnake country so be on the lookout as you walk around. I have to admit this was far better than I had imagined during my conversation in Canada a couple years ago.
The RV resort was great. There was a beautiful golf course, great swimming pool and other amenities. This would be great stop during the fall and winter months when all the Snowbirds head south.