THE TERRIFYING TALES OF: HAUNTED APPALACHIA — SECRETS IN THE SMOKIES
If you see something… no, you didn’t.
If you hear something… no... you didn’t...
These are just a few of the unspoken rules of the Appalachian Mountains — a place where the forest doesn’t just breathe, it listens. Stretching more than two thousand miles across the eastern United States and beyond, the Appalachian Trail cuts straight through the heart of some of the oldest — and most haunted — land on Earth. These mountains have swallowed more souls than history dares to count, and some say they never let go.
In this episode, we’ll follow the Appalachian Trail through the Great Smoky Mountains — from the mysterious disappearances of Dennis Martin and Trenny Gibson to the chilling legends whispered in their wake. Stories of what might still move beneath the earth… and what feeds above it.
So if you’re curious enough to brave the trail with me, we have to tread carefully. Because if you stray too far from the path, yours might be the next story they tell.
Out here, there are rules:
Respect the land.
Never stray from the marked path.
Never whistle in the woods.
Never look too long into the tree line.
Never stay out past dark.
And whatever you do — don’t answer when something calls your name.
If you see something… no, you didn’t.
If you hear something… no... you didn’t...
Episode Source Material
The Disappearance of Dennis Lloyd Martin (1969)
Contemporary Newspaper Coverage (via Newspapers.com)
“Mountain ‘Smoke’ Defeats Searchers.” Kingsport Times, Staff.
“Trace of Missing Boy, Footprints Found in Carolina.” The Knoxville News-Sentinel, by Carson Brewer.
“Search Widens for Boy.” Bristol Herald Courier, Staff.
“Little Boy Still Missing, One Small Clue Found; Bloodhounds Added.” The Daily News-Journal, by Carl A. Vines.
“Boy’s Mother Says God Helping.” The Jackson Sun, Staff.
“Foliage and Pests Hamper Hunt for Boy in Mountains.” The Commercial Appeal, by Charles Thornton.
“Searchers Hope to Give Dennis Happy Birthday.” The Daily News-Journal, by Glenn Stephens.
“Fog, Foul Weather Cloud Chances of Lost Boy.” The Commercial Appeal, by Charles Thornton.
“Smokies Searchers Mystery: Psychology of a 7-Year-Old.” Kingsport Times, Staff.
“Dennis, Lost 11 Days, May Fear Those Seeking Him.” The Daily News-Journal, by Carl A. Vines.
“Search for Boy Cut as Hope Fades.” The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Staff.
“Search for Dennis Martin Scaled Down.” The Jackson Sun, Staff.
“So Many Things Could Have Happened to Little Dennis Martin Lost in the ‘Friendly’ Smokies.” The Memphis Press-Scimitar, by J.Z. Howard.
“Hope for Dennis Vanishing, But Many Concerned.” The Knoxville News-Sentinel, by Carson Brewer.
“Does Anyone Know Where Dennis Is?” Kingsport Times-News, Staff.
“Scream Was Heard in Sea Branch Area.” The Knoxville News-Sentinel, by Carson Brewer (two editions).
“Many Secrets Locked in Great Smoky Mountains.” Kingsport Times, Staff.
“No Trace Has Ever Been Found; Dennis Was Lost One Year Ago.” The Knoxville News-Sentinel, by Carson Brewer.
“Smokies Keep Their Secret.” The Tennessean, by Escar Thompson.
“Smoky Forests Hide Mystery of Dennis Martin.” The Jackson Sun, Staff.
“Case of Boy Lost Decades Ago in Smokies Still a Mystery.” The Leaf-Chronicle, by Bob Hodge.
“Three Who Got Lost Decades Ago in Smokies Never Found.” Elizabethton Star, Staff.
“Search in Smokies for Lost Boy Produces Lessons in Future Investigations.” The Knoxville News-Sentinel, by Jim Balloch (multiple editions).
Modern Coverage & Retrospectives
“Timeline: Dennis Martin Mystery — The 1969 Search in the Smokies.” Knox News, by Matt Lakin.
“Search for Dennis Martin Haunts Smokies 50 Years After He Vanished: Martin Lessons Live On in Search Methods.” The Knoxville News-Sentinel, by Matt Lakin (multiple editions).
“The Vanished | Dennis Martin and the Biggest National Park Search of All Time.” WBIR 10 News, by Katelyn Keenehan, via wbir.com.
Official & Federal Records
“Dennis Lloyd Martin Disappearance Case File.” National Park Service (NPS.gov), Staff.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Dennis Martin Case File, 133 pages, via vault.fbi.gov.
NCMEC: Missing Child Poster and Age-Progressed Image.
Broadcast & Documentary Sources
Out There: Crimes of the Paranormal, Season 1, Episode 7 — “Smoky Mountain Nightmare.” Hulu / Disney+.
The Disappearance of Trenny Lynn Gibson (1976)
Newspaper & Press Archives
“Knoxville Youth Missing in Mts.” The Daily News-Journal, Staff Report.
“Searchers Still Find No Trace of Missing Girl.” Associated Press.
“Still No Trace of Lost Girl.” Associated Press.
“Search Ends in Park Area.” Statesville Record and Landmark via Associated Press.
“Search for Girl Who Disappeared in Park Stopped.” Johnson City Press via Associated Press.
“Three Who Got Lost Decades Ago in the Smokies Never Found.” Associated Press, by Bob Hodge.
Articles & Online Publications
“Trenny Lynn Gibson – Strange Disappearances From U.S. National Park.” Strange Outdoors.
“Appalachian Unsolved: Trenny Gibson, Missing in the Smokies.” WBIR Channel 10 News.
“Appalachian Unsolved: Trenny Gibson, Lost in the Smokies.” John North and Leslie Acherson, WBIR Channel 10 News.
“Trenny Gibson – 2 Suspect Simpson.” Interview with Laura Riste, by Tim Pilleri and Lance Reenstierna.
“Missing: Trenny Lynn Gibson.” Unsolved Appalachia.
“Trenny Lynn Gibson.” The Charley Project.
“Case File 425DFTN.” The Doe Network.
“Gone in the Smoky Mountains: Trenny Gibson’s Disappearance.” Laura Riste, laurariste.com.
Clingman’s Dome Information. National Park Service.
