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Griz Drylie Is Anything But When it Comes to Victory Valley History

Historian Griz Drylie

Historian Griz Drylie and wife Shelly at their restaurant, Shelly’s Place

If you see a fellow in Old Town Hesperia who looks decidedly out of his century‚ be prepared for a long-winded treat. Most likely you’ve come across Griz Drylie‚ and he’s got something to say.

“I’m a character all right‚” he says in a grizzled voice to match his nickname (his real name is Gary).

“I’m one of the local historians – my nickname being Griz – and I collect regalia.”

He has collected items from the 1840s era of Kit Carson‚ the guide for Gen. John C. Fremont. Whenever Griz wants to‚ for an special event or whatever‚ he’ll dress up in his garb and show up‚ waiting for his cue.

“When people say‚ ‘Why are you dressed so weird?’ it gives me the opportunity to talk about the history of Hesperia‚” says the fellow with long hair and a beard. “Whenever I want to‚ I’m more than happy to talk about history. That’s me. I’m a mite different.”

He will tell you about Old Town’s creation in the mid-1950s‚ when Jack Dempsey and Penn Phillips bought the area. It had been in a bit of a decline since after Route 66 came along and pulled traffic away from main area of Hesperia.

“When Phillips bought it‚ Old Town came into being. He brought a rebirth to Hesperia. There were 56 residents then; now it’s 70‚000‚” Drylie says.

When he’s not giving history lessons‚ Griz Drylie and his wife‚ Shelly‚ operate Shelly’s Place‚ an eatery she opened 23 years ago.

It’s a breakfast-and-lunch kind of restaurant that is a popular hangout for the locals‚ with dishes that have local names like the Old Town Burger. Leave it to Griz Drylie to serve history on the hoof‚ even to his neighbors.

“People of Hesperia are a little kickback‚” he says. “It’s a little easier going‚ a very nice community.”

Story by Catherine Darnell
Photo by Wes Aldridge

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