On September 25, 1981, a 58-year-old woman mysteriously vanished while hiking a familiar Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains. Moments after walking ahead of her friends, she disappeared without a trace. Strange behaviors leading up to that day—including unusual phone calls and missed commitments—only deepened the mystery. Despite exhaustive searches, her fate remains unknown. Was she lost, abducted, or did she deliberately disappear? Join us this week as we investigate the disappearance of Thelma Polly Melton in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.<br /><br />Mark your calendars!  We have a special multi hour live stream coming up on the evening of 4/23/25.  Stay tuned for more details!<br /><br />Learn more about Locations Unknown: <a href="https://linktr.ee/LocationsUnknown" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://linktr.ee/LocationsUnknown</a><br /><br />Check out our other shows on the Unknown Media Network:<br /><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/crime-off-the-grid--6490101" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crime Off The Grid</a><br /><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/off-the-trails--6221956" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Off The Trails</a><br /><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-peanut-butter-and-mountains-podcast--6402387" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Peanut Butter and Mountains Podcast</a><br /><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-weirdos-we-know--6281813" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Weirdos We Know</a>  <br /><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/who-runs-this-park--6437607" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Who Runs This Park</a><br /><br />New Patreon Shoutouts: John E Farris, Jasmina Vodenicar, Amy Friedl<b><br /></b><br /><br />Want to help the show out and get even more Locations Unknown content!  For as little as $5 a month, you can become a Patron of Locations Unknown and get access to our episodes early, special members only episode, free swag, swag contests, and discounts to our Locations Unknown Store!  Become a Patron of the Locations Unknown Podcast by visiting our <a href="https://www.patreon.com/locationsunknown" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patreon</a> page.  (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/locationsunknown" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.patreon.com/locationsunknown</a>)  <br /><br />All our Patreon only content (Audio &amp; Video) can now be accessed via Spotify.  (Active subscription to our Patreon channel is required.) -- <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4gwFmgUDRJb0JFPUGS7Syo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Locations Unknown Subscriber Only Show | Podcast on Spotify</a>  <br /><br />Want to call into the show and leave us a message?  Now you can!  Call 208-391-6913 and leave Locations Unknown a voice message and we may air it on a future message! <br /><br />View live recordings of the show on our YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn0Y9PiRoJmHRHYi0JZMixQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Locations Unknown - YouTube</a><br /><br />Presented by Unknown Media Group.<br /><br />Hosts: Mike Van de Bogert <br />Research: Cherish Green<br /><br />Cover image credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/a_little_brighter/53284961607/in/photolist-2pbBmEB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harold Litwiler</a><br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/locations-unknown--6183838/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/locations-unknown--6183838/support</a>.

Locations Unknown

Locations Unknown

Thelma Polly Melton - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

MAR 28, 202550 MIN
Locations Unknown

Thelma Polly Melton - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

MAR 28, 202550 MIN

Description

On September 25, 1981, a 58-year-old woman mysteriously vanished while hiking a familiar Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains. Moments after walking ahead of her friends, she disappeared without a trace. Strange behaviors leading up to that day—including unusual phone calls and missed commitments—only deepened the mystery. Despite exhaustive searches, her fate remains unknown. Was she lost, abducted, or did she deliberately disappear? Join us this week as we investigate the disappearance of Thelma Polly Melton in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.<br /><br />Mark your calendars!  We have a special multi hour live stream coming up on the evening of 4/23/25.  Stay tuned for more details!<br /><br />Learn more about Locations Unknown: <a href="https://linktr.ee/LocationsUnknown" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://linktr.ee/LocationsUnknown</a><br /><br />Check out our other shows on the Unknown Media Network:<br /><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/crime-off-the-grid--6490101" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crime Off The Grid</a><br /><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/off-the-trails--6221956" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Off The Trails</a><br /><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-peanut-butter-and-mountains-podcast--6402387" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Peanut Butter and Mountains Podcast</a><br /><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-weirdos-we-know--6281813" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Weirdos We Know</a>  <br /><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/who-runs-this-park--6437607" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Who Runs This Park</a><br /><br />New Patreon Shoutouts: John E Farris, Jasmina Vodenicar, Amy Friedl<b><br /></b><br /><br />Want to help the show out and get even more Locations Unknown content!  For as little as $5 a month, you can become a Patron of Locations Unknown and get access to our episodes early, special members only episode, free swag, swag contests, and discounts to our Locations Unknown Store!  Become a Patron of the Locations Unknown Podcast by visiting our <a href="https://www.patreon.com/locationsunknown" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patreon</a> page.  (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/locationsunknown" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.patreon.com/locationsunknown</a>)  <br /><br />All our Patreon only content (Audio &amp; Video) can now be accessed via Spotify.  (Active subscription to our Patreon channel is required.) -- <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4gwFmgUDRJb0JFPUGS7Syo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Locations Unknown Subscriber Only Show | Podcast on Spotify</a>  <br /><br />Want to call into the show and leave us a message?  Now you can!  Call 208-391-6913 and leave Locations Unknown a voice message and we may air it on a future message! <br /><br />View live recordings of the show on our YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn0Y9PiRoJmHRHYi0JZMixQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Locations Unknown - YouTube</a><br /><br />Presented by Unknown Media Group.<br /><br />Hosts: Mike Van de Bogert <br />Research: Cherish Green<br /><br />Cover image credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/a_little_brighter/53284961607/in/photolist-2pbBmEB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harold Litwiler</a><br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/locations-unknown--6183838/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/locations-unknown--6183838/support</a>.