Original site photo. The Texas AgriLife Research Center at El Paso donated the land, at no cost, for the garden. Since the intent was to make the garden as natural as possible, nearly 70 tons of processed red rock was removed and replaced with natural rock. All plants removed from the site were replanted in other garden areas or were made available to homeowners for private landscapes.

Seventy-one volunteers (Master Gardeners, Cactus Club, Native Plant Society, and community personnel) volunteered over 1000 hours to prepare the site, develop the paths, apply the rock mulch and plant the cacti.  Master Gardeners from El Paso County, TX and Dona Ana County, NM participated.

Most of the cacti that were planted in the High Desert Cactus Garden were obtained from cactus rescue missions. This rescue occurred on the Castner Range, which contained 12 varieties of endangered cacti.