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• BORREGO – A LITTLE HISTORY

Anza-Borrego has one of the richest fossil records in North America dating back some 7 million years, so it is only fitting that, if you were going to establish a “creature desert”, populated with dinosaurs and saber tooth tigers, Borrego would be the perfect location!

Dennis Avery, the gentleman who owns miles of desert called Galleta Meadows Estate, is the benefactor of an extraordinary collection of free-standing sculpted “creatures”. He and his wife Sally Wong-Avery have owned the Galleta Meadows property since the mid 90’s and have a winter home in the valley. With a long time passion for all things prehistoric, Dennis began envisioning his creature collection after happening upon the work of sculptor Ricardo Breceda. And we do mean “happening”! Dennis was driving down the I-215 when he spotted a Tyrannosaurus Rex looming some 30 feet in the air from behind a chain link fence. Of course, he had to circle back and get a closer look and that U turn began his partnership with Breceda that has resulted in the growing display of lively creatures you can visit along Borrego Springs Road.

Breceda began sculpting more than a decade ago. He works primarily in steel—welding, hammering and shaping his pieces into life size and bigger representations of dinosaurs, elephants, saber tooth tigers, eagles, giant sloths, wild horses and more. The pieces are randomly placed throughout the Galleta Meadows property and are easily accessible from the road so, please, help yourself to an amazing adventure!