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National Park Mysteries & Disappearances: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
One of the most visited national parks in the country has a dark side.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, with 12.1 million recreational visits in 2020. Aside from crowds of hikers, campers, and general tourists, there’s a dark side to the Smokies, the town of Gatlinburg and the surrounding foothills. From strange disappearances, grisly murders and bone-chilling paranormal hauntings and ghost sightings; this pristine paradise has a lot more to offer than just serene hiking trails or camping.
So, put aside your nature guidebooks, forget about the pretty leaves, and the relaxing streams as well as the miniature golf, the funnel cakes and all the other “tourist traps” and prepare for a wild ride on the dark side of the Great Smoky Mountains.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, with 12.1 million recreational visits in 2020. Aside from crowds of hikers, campers, and general tourists, there’s a dark side to the Smokies, the town of Gatlinburg and the surrounding foothills. From strange disappearances, grisly murders and bone-chilling paranormal hauntings and ghost sightings; this pristine paradise has a lot more to offer than just serene hiking trails or camping.
So, put aside your nature guidebooks, forget about the pretty leaves, and the relaxing streams as well as the miniature golf, the funnel cakes and all the other “tourist traps” and prepare for a wild ride on the dark side of the Great Smoky Mountains.
182 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 20, 2021
614 people are currently reading
329 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
August 15, 2022
My only issue with this was that the narrator/whoever organized the narration included the driving directions and websites for the places mentioned. It was kind of annoying; for a physical book that's totally fine but I don't think anything like that should have been included in the narration. Otherwise this was an interesting read!
September 3, 2022
Brief accounts of oddities, legends, and an appreciation for the macabre when it comes to exploring one of America’s most popular and oldest National Parks had me excited to pounce on the first volume of a new series of brief, unique travelogue stories collected from the author’s personal experiences and research.
Steve Stockton shares a brief history of how The Great Smoky NP came into being and his personal experiences growing up visiting the park as a boy. Then he further shares several tales that he gleaned from local sources and folklore that denote experiences of people in and around the park. The tales are divided into mysteries- natural and supernatural, mythologies particularly derived from the local Cherokee, and disappearances, past and current. Sprinkled through the stories are references to travel details and cautions.
I appreciated ghostly tales, legends of the Cherokee ‘Little People’, Wild People, Bigfoot, sad deaths and disappearances, and some funny ones like the Gatlinburg ghost tour that might really be haunted by a deceased tour guide.
Chris Abernathy was a first time narrator for me and I appreciated his enthusiastic way of storytelling that invited the listener to appreciate the stories and accounts. He kept a single voice though changed his pacing and tone which enhanced the listening experience.
This is a quick listen and each tale is brief and sometimes merely a recitation of facts and sometimes filled in with eye witness accounts and speculations. It could get pedantic at times, but, for the most part, it was exactly what it promised to be and pulled me in. I have visited Great Smoky NP and nearby vicinity on both sides of the Appalachians so found many of the places mentioned recognizable. This was a new way to experience some of American’s most rugged, historic and beautiful regions through the lens of a supernatural and mystery lover.
I rec’d an audio copy from Tantor Audio to listen to in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Aug 31st.
Steve Stockton shares a brief history of how The Great Smoky NP came into being and his personal experiences growing up visiting the park as a boy. Then he further shares several tales that he gleaned from local sources and folklore that denote experiences of people in and around the park. The tales are divided into mysteries- natural and supernatural, mythologies particularly derived from the local Cherokee, and disappearances, past and current. Sprinkled through the stories are references to travel details and cautions.
I appreciated ghostly tales, legends of the Cherokee ‘Little People’, Wild People, Bigfoot, sad deaths and disappearances, and some funny ones like the Gatlinburg ghost tour that might really be haunted by a deceased tour guide.
Chris Abernathy was a first time narrator for me and I appreciated his enthusiastic way of storytelling that invited the listener to appreciate the stories and accounts. He kept a single voice though changed his pacing and tone which enhanced the listening experience.
This is a quick listen and each tale is brief and sometimes merely a recitation of facts and sometimes filled in with eye witness accounts and speculations. It could get pedantic at times, but, for the most part, it was exactly what it promised to be and pulled me in. I have visited Great Smoky NP and nearby vicinity on both sides of the Appalachians so found many of the places mentioned recognizable. This was a new way to experience some of American’s most rugged, historic and beautiful regions through the lens of a supernatural and mystery lover.
I rec’d an audio copy from Tantor Audio to listen to in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Aug 31st.
July 27, 2024
I liked this! This book covers haunting, myths, legends, lore and disappearances. So if you are only interested in disappearances this may not be the right book?
I think it’s also set up to be more for someone actually planning to visit the area. The author gives phone numbers and websites to visit if any of the places are ones you would want to visit.
Which was perfect for us since we’re on the way there.
It did get repetitive in places? Some stories it felt like he told twice, which was a choice, and in other places he would reference back to other stories he’s already told.
But all in all it was a fun (and quick) listen for the car ride on our way there.
I think it’s also set up to be more for someone actually planning to visit the area. The author gives phone numbers and websites to visit if any of the places are ones you would want to visit.
Which was perfect for us since we’re on the way there.
It did get repetitive in places? Some stories it felt like he told twice, which was a choice, and in other places he would reference back to other stories he’s already told.
But all in all it was a fun (and quick) listen for the car ride on our way there.
November 12, 2022
Basically a travel brochure.
July 30, 2025
I was not super into this one. the writing seemed lacking, it was a lot more ghost stories and urban legends than anything else.
November 23, 2024
This was an interesting little read! I’ve actually already read Volume 2 in this series, and this one was very similar to it in a lot of ways. I do wish that there was more time spent on the chapters involving the missing people, because I found those chapters so interesting! Overall though, this is a decent little read, even if it is a bit brief in the telling of these very interesting stories.
June 14, 2021
Well written. Just not my kind of book. Should be classified as a tour guide hand book.
April 7, 2022
Amazing Information
This was an excellent Read! I have been traveling to The Smokey Mountains for years. As a young girl my parents took me and my siblings every year and I have continued to make this a go to place to get away. I can honestly say that I was not aware of all of the disappearances in this beautiful place.
This book was very interesting and gives a-lot of information on not only the ones who go missing but also on clustered Airplane Crashes and Cherokee Folklore as well as ghost stories and haunting.
If you are a fan of any of the above mentioned topics, I’m sure you will find this interesting and chalked full of chilling information.
This was an excellent Read! I have been traveling to The Smokey Mountains for years. As a young girl my parents took me and my siblings every year and I have continued to make this a go to place to get away. I can honestly say that I was not aware of all of the disappearances in this beautiful place.
This book was very interesting and gives a-lot of information on not only the ones who go missing but also on clustered Airplane Crashes and Cherokee Folklore as well as ghost stories and haunting.
If you are a fan of any of the above mentioned topics, I’m sure you will find this interesting and chalked full of chilling information.
June 10, 2022
I found this pretty interesting as someone who knows nothing about the national parks of America
April 19, 2023
Decent Starting Point for Those Interested
While this book wasn't quite as spooky or informative as I was hoping, it was still a pretty fun read. It is also pretty short, under 200 pages, so it was an entertaining way to spend a couple of hours & I did learn about a couple of spooky missing persons cases. There are also chapters to deal with well known hauntings & creepy cryptid sightings, though I thought these sections were written more on the travel brochure style, with only a brief description instead of an immersive look at possible paranormal activities.
Personally I would've liked a little more information on most of the subjects. As I said above, the haunting section seemed particularly light, but then the mysterious missing individuals were supposed to be the focus of the book. Also, I felt that overall the writing style was somewhat amateurish... or at least could've used a good editor. For example, there were more than a couple of sentences that read like this: "A broken man, Bill rarely spoke with the media and essentially died a broken man..." It was just lacking some of the finesse of language that I tend to expect from the books I read.
That said, I did enjoy the book, & because it is available through Kindle Unlimited, it was free, as are it's two companions, which I plan to read as well. While not as in depth as I might have liked, it was a quick, fun little read & works well as a travel guide, providing a jumping off point for anyone interested in ghost hunting or possible supernatural landmarks around Appalachia. As far as the main topic of missing people, I think it would probably be a good book for people who are completely unfamiliar with the subject matter. The author provides sufficient information to entice the reader to learn more. For readers who have already studied the subject of mysterious disappearances & want to know more, I HIGHLY recommend the Missing 411 books. They go into all the detail that is unfortunately missing from this book. Bottom line, it's a light yet intriguing look at the peak of the mysterious disappearance iceberg, & a decent way to spend an afternoon if the subject is one that interests you.
While this book wasn't quite as spooky or informative as I was hoping, it was still a pretty fun read. It is also pretty short, under 200 pages, so it was an entertaining way to spend a couple of hours & I did learn about a couple of spooky missing persons cases. There are also chapters to deal with well known hauntings & creepy cryptid sightings, though I thought these sections were written more on the travel brochure style, with only a brief description instead of an immersive look at possible paranormal activities.
Personally I would've liked a little more information on most of the subjects. As I said above, the haunting section seemed particularly light, but then the mysterious missing individuals were supposed to be the focus of the book. Also, I felt that overall the writing style was somewhat amateurish... or at least could've used a good editor. For example, there were more than a couple of sentences that read like this: "A broken man, Bill rarely spoke with the media and essentially died a broken man..." It was just lacking some of the finesse of language that I tend to expect from the books I read.
That said, I did enjoy the book, & because it is available through Kindle Unlimited, it was free, as are it's two companions, which I plan to read as well. While not as in depth as I might have liked, it was a quick, fun little read & works well as a travel guide, providing a jumping off point for anyone interested in ghost hunting or possible supernatural landmarks around Appalachia. As far as the main topic of missing people, I think it would probably be a good book for people who are completely unfamiliar with the subject matter. The author provides sufficient information to entice the reader to learn more. For readers who have already studied the subject of mysterious disappearances & want to know more, I HIGHLY recommend the Missing 411 books. They go into all the detail that is unfortunately missing from this book. Bottom line, it's a light yet intriguing look at the peak of the mysterious disappearance iceberg, & a decent way to spend an afternoon if the subject is one that interests you.
June 14, 2021
Well researched look at Great Smokies National Park Disappearances
I liked this book. I first became interested in the phenomenon of people disappearing in United States National Parks after being introduced to the work of David Paulides’ Missing 411. David is a retired law enforcement officer and the true father of this genre! Steve Stockton follows the rules of the genre, just reporting the story, while not jumping to unprovable conclusions.
Something is going on on our National Parks but the government has not coordinated an effort to discover the cause of causes of these deaths and disappearances. They have poor to no record keeping. They do not share information with local law enforcement or SAR (search and rescue) entities.
This book is recommended for those new to the phenomena. It will open your eyes to what’s happening and it’s scope! You will have way more questions than answers after reading this book!
I liked this book. I first became interested in the phenomenon of people disappearing in United States National Parks after being introduced to the work of David Paulides’ Missing 411. David is a retired law enforcement officer and the true father of this genre! Steve Stockton follows the rules of the genre, just reporting the story, while not jumping to unprovable conclusions.
Something is going on on our National Parks but the government has not coordinated an effort to discover the cause of causes of these deaths and disappearances. They have poor to no record keeping. They do not share information with local law enforcement or SAR (search and rescue) entities.
This book is recommended for those new to the phenomena. It will open your eyes to what’s happening and it’s scope! You will have way more questions than answers after reading this book!
March 2, 2023
Somehow, I forgot to review this book. In any case, I really enjoyed it. The stories were told well - sometimes seriously and other times with humor. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Since I read a lot of this sort of book and watch TV shows about this topic, some of the stories were familiar to me. However, even the familiar ones were well told, so I enjoyed them.
My favorite story was the one about the kid that ran away from home and got caught in a blizzard. Years later, his family finally found out what had become of him - through a series of amazing coincidences. So often, people try to put a mysterious spin on disappearances. It really makes you wonder how often it really is just happenstance.
Since I read a lot of this sort of book and watch TV shows about this topic, some of the stories were familiar to me. However, even the familiar ones were well told, so I enjoyed them.
My favorite story was the one about the kid that ran away from home and got caught in a blizzard. Years later, his family finally found out what had become of him - through a series of amazing coincidences. So often, people try to put a mysterious spin on disappearances. It really makes you wonder how often it really is just happenstance.
May 31, 2023
The first part of this book seems geared to those interested in "haunted tourism" (places with ghost sightings, etc), but the second and third parts are for anyone interested in learning things about the area that aren't part of a "regular" tour. Little odd tidbits, strange or off-the-wall facts, folklore, etc.
Sadly, just a couple years after its publishing, some of the information is already out-of-date. (Websites, hours, reservation info, etc) and I also noticed a few incorrect facts. (i.e. Mount Mitchell is NOT the highest mountain in North America. The audio version (at least) had that wrong - I'll assume the author/reader meant highest in North Carolina), but I still enjoyed it. It's a fun, different kind of travel book.
Sadly, just a couple years after its publishing, some of the information is already out-of-date. (Websites, hours, reservation info, etc) and I also noticed a few incorrect facts. (i.e. Mount Mitchell is NOT the highest mountain in North America. The audio version (at least) had that wrong - I'll assume the author/reader meant highest in North Carolina), but I still enjoyed it. It's a fun, different kind of travel book.
June 7, 2024
I was not the intended audience for this book. This book is GREAT if you are looking for a travel guide to supposedly haunted place while visiting Gatlinburg. The author gives you directions, phone numbers and addresses to all these places, which can be useful, but did make this book feel like a tourist guide.
I will say, I didn't like that the author really seemed to ham up the stories for added drama. In the first chapter a beautiful bride, after being stood up at the alter, tells herself its not the end of the world, but then the shame of being unwed is too much and hangs herself from the rafters? Wow, drama much? There doesn't seem to be a lot of research, and if there was, it is lost with the tone of the writing.
I will say, I didn't like that the author really seemed to ham up the stories for added drama. In the first chapter a beautiful bride, after being stood up at the alter, tells herself its not the end of the world, but then the shame of being unwed is too much and hangs herself from the rafters? Wow, drama much? There doesn't seem to be a lot of research, and if there was, it is lost with the tone of the writing.
December 13, 2021
National parks are amazing places to visit! So much beauty and wide open spaces to explore. There is a more sinister and mysterious aspect to these beautiful areas of protected lands. This book takes the reader to The Great Smokey Mountains National Park (I've been there, not all of it, but some and it is gorgeous!), and relays tales of some of the mysteries and disappearances that have happened in the park. There are ghosts, plane crashes, mysterious beings, and of course missing people.
The chapters are short, and give just enough of each tale to make it interesting without boring the reader.
The chapters are short, and give just enough of each tale to make it interesting without boring the reader.
January 5, 2023
National parks are large areas with plenty of room for wildlife. Things that are not 'normal' could exist there. Odd things could happen there. This book covers these types of things. It includes:
Haunting from a suicide
Ghosts at inns and restaurants
Fontana Lake
The hitchhiking ghost
Spearfinger
Bigfoot (possibly a feral human?)
Auto accidents
Plane crashes
Plus there's lots of warnings about things not to do when exploring these areas since they are nature and regular bad things can happen and rescue can become a problem.
It's a typical book of this nature although I do like the alternate explanation for just what a Bigfoot is.
Haunting from a suicide
Ghosts at inns and restaurants
Fontana Lake
The hitchhiking ghost
Spearfinger
Bigfoot (possibly a feral human?)
Auto accidents
Plane crashes
Plus there's lots of warnings about things not to do when exploring these areas since they are nature and regular bad things can happen and rescue can become a problem.
It's a typical book of this nature although I do like the alternate explanation for just what a Bigfoot is.
November 1, 2021
I loved this book even though it was not very much about Bigfoot's. My mother was born and raised in far western North Carolina and I have heard her mention the places in this book so many times. I feel like I know them. The amount of people who got lost and were never found just makes me want to say "why not?" I realize that a tremendous effort was made, but after all these years have passed, and not even bones found? I just wonder if some of them just skipped out of life and are now hanging around with a new name?
October 24, 2023
There were some interesting stories in this book, especially the chapters relating to the disappearances of people visiting the Smoky Mountains, but the "paranormal hauntings and ghost sightings" seemed like urban legends passed down through the generations and lacked the intensity I was expecting.
It is a short audiobook, though, and it helped to pass the time on a car trip. A slightly annoying part of the book was the inclusion of website addresses, directions, and operating hours of the "haunted" places. It added to the skepticism of how haunted these places actually are.
It is a short audiobook, though, and it helped to pass the time on a car trip. A slightly annoying part of the book was the inclusion of website addresses, directions, and operating hours of the "haunted" places. It added to the skepticism of how haunted these places actually are.
May 3, 2021
Truly Fascinating Stories!
It feels as if I've been waiting FOREVER for a new Steve Stockton book to be released! Imagine my excitement when the book released is about strange phenomenon/disappearances within the Smoky Mountains! (With a part 2 to be released in August 2021!) As per usual, the author manages to make every story interesting. This book is a page turner that I had a hard time putting down until I finished it. Keep 'em coming, Mr. Stockton!
It feels as if I've been waiting FOREVER for a new Steve Stockton book to be released! Imagine my excitement when the book released is about strange phenomenon/disappearances within the Smoky Mountains! (With a part 2 to be released in August 2021!) As per usual, the author manages to make every story interesting. This book is a page turner that I had a hard time putting down until I finished it. Keep 'em coming, Mr. Stockton!
September 15, 2022
I'm familiar with Steve's work through the Missing Person Mysteries Youtube channel. This felt like he had taken scripts from episodes and put them in a book without caring to edit and make sure stories were not repeated and sentences weren't awkward.
Still an interesting read for someone unfamiliar with the area, but I don't think I'll bother with any of his other books if they are a similar regurgitation of stories I've already heard.
Still an interesting read for someone unfamiliar with the area, but I don't think I'll bother with any of his other books if they are a similar regurgitation of stories I've already heard.
January 3, 2024
It seemed like the write couldn’t decide if it was a retelling of stories or a travel guide. Some of the stories were literally “this place is haunted” and then directions and info about visiting which I found rather strange. Having just visited this park I was looking for something more. I’ve been able to find more detailed info online for free on the same topic. I was disappointed to have spent money on this.
July 24, 2021
More folklore than mysteries, but well researched, with a good level of detail.
There are summaries of disappearances that have been well documented elsewhere in later sections of the book. The focus for most of the writing is on the myths and legends of the first people to have lived in the area.
There are summaries of disappearances that have been well documented elsewhere in later sections of the book. The focus for most of the writing is on the myths and legends of the first people to have lived in the area.
January 31, 2023
This book tells the stories of strange and unusual disappearances or events that have all occurred in the Gdeat Smoky Mountains. I knew a good amount of the stories already, but there were some good ones that I didn't know about.
There is something truly eerie about a dark, dense forest, and I am here for it all!
There is something truly eerie about a dark, dense forest, and I am here for it all!
October 29, 2023
Interesting read! I think it’s important to note that this is more of a travel guide then a true crime book. It would be pretty easy to use this book as a starting point for a ghost hunt and it throws in a lot of other types of phenomenon as well. I would definitely pick this up if I were planning a trip to the area.
November 16, 2023
This seems to be primarily a guide book for locations in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. It gives helpful information such as websites for hotels etc. If you are planning a trip to the area and want to check out some potentially haunted locations, it's a great book. If you just want some spooky stories about ghosts and disappearances, it may not be what you are looking for.
August 29, 2024
This was a great read! I didn't feel overloaded with info. I had no idea that the majority of deaths in The Great Smoky Mountains are from plane crashes and not animal attacks. After these stories, I am thankful that Dolly Parton found her way out of this crazy place! Can you imagine a world without the iconic Dolly Parton?
August 1, 2022
I found this book to be more about lore and urban legends. For a more detailed look at the deaths and mysteries of the Smokies I recommend "Death in the Great Smoky Mountains: Stories of Accidents and Foolhardiness in the Most Popular Park" by Michael Bradley.
September 5, 2022
Too many ghost stories at the beginning but the second half of the book regarding nonfiction accounts of plane crashes and disappearance are exactly why I wanted to read this book and made up for the fictional tales at the beginning.
June 20, 2023
Short overviews of various missing persons cases or accidents in national parks. Not very detailed or over the top interesting, but it is a good introduction to topics that a reader may be intrigued enough to find further material.
August 13, 2023
This was an enjoyable afternoon read full of short stories. All of the stories and folklore were new to me. Many of the stories were intriguing enough that I had stop reading and search for them on internet. I look forward to reading more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews