Great Smoky Mountain National Park begins the transition to fall in September. Soon the leaves would blaze into bright colors of red, orange, and gold. The heat of summer is replaced by temperatures ranging from the sixties to the eighties during the day. Hikers and campers love the weather and the beauty of the mountains.

Thelma Pauline Melton loved the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the fall. She and her husband, Bob, lived in Jacksonville, Florida. They spent a few months every fall camping in the mountains. In September of 1981 they stayed in their Airstream camper in the Deep Creek Campground near Bryson City, North Carolina. Known as friendly and generous, she regularly volunteered at the Bryson City Presbyterian Nutrition Center. Called Polly by her friends, she was 58 years old, and Bob was almost twenty years older than she was. They had been married for six years. It was her third marriage and she had no children. Bob had been married once before and had two adult sons. Although Bob’s health had been declining over the years, the couple still enjoyed traveling.

While Bob was no longer able to join Polly hiking, she still enjoyed the activity, despite being a two-pack a day smoker and taking medication for high blood pressure and nausea. She always hiked with friends and only on easy trails. On September 25, 1981 around 3:00 PM she set off with two friends, Red (Pauline) Cannon and Trula Gudger. The Deep Creek Trail was an easy hike and Polly’s favorite. Cars are allowed on Deep Creek Trail about three quarters of a mile into the National Park. It comes to a split and on one side there is a picnic spot and a parking lot. The other side of the road is the hiking trail. This was the route the three women walked the day of the disappearance. Her friends recalled she had been walking more slowly than usual and they teased her about it. About an hour into the hike, at 4:00 PM, the trio headed back to the campground. As they drew closer to Polly’s and Bob’s campsite, Polly suddenly began to walk faster. Thinking they might have annoyed her by teasing her earlier they were unconcerned knowing she would get over it. Polly wasn’t the type to hold a grudge.

Polly kept up a steady pace, staying ahead of her friends. They saw her go over a hill on the trail. A few minutes later, as they topped the hill, there was no sign of their friend. Assuming she had gone ahead to the campground, they didn’t worry. It wasn’t until they reached the Melton camper and was told by husband Bob that Polly hadn’t returned that they became concerned. It was about 4:30 PM and Polly hadn’t been seen for about an hour. Bob waited at the camper while Red and Trula, along with their husbands, hurried back to the trail for any sign of where Polly might have gone. They asked hikers they passed on the trail if any had seen her. No one had. Knowing Polly was terrified of snakes, they discounted the possibility she had gone off the trail and into the woods. Polly had been wearing a pink and white blouse, tan pants, and low cut tan shoes. She wore glasses. Polly’s hair was red and her eyes were brown. They continued searching until 6:00 PM when they contacted Park Rangers.

Park Rangers contacted the police for assistance. One of Polly’s shoes had a distinctive line across the bottom making her footprints distinctive, although, the good weather and popularity of the easy trail drew many hikers. It became impossible to distinguish Polly’s footprints from others. It couldn’t be determined if she left the trail. With the parking lot close by there was some question she might have gotten into a car. Why would she do that? Keep that in mind for now.

Officials immediately closed the trail. One hundred and fifty volunteers and nine search dogs joined in the search for Polly. As they searched, one of the dogs picked up Polly’s scent where she was last seen. Oddly, no trace was found anywhere else. Although the dogs reacted strongly, they didn’t leave the spot. Despite the lack of a trail of evidence, they continued to search for five days. On October 2, 1981 the search was officially concluded.

The evening of Polly’s disappearance her husband Bob was so distraught he suffered a stroke. It was so devastating he spent the rest of his life in a nursing facility.

Police spoke with people who were acquainted with Polly; neighbors at the campground, people who also volunteered at the food kitchen, fellow church members, and her minister at church. The minister confided he believed or was told by Polly that she had been having an affair. He suggested she might feel guilty about her infidelity. None of Polly’s friends expressed knowledge of an affair. However, the minister’s comments raised the possibility Polly had arranged to run away with her lover, leaving her life behind. If this was true, more questions arise. Who was the mystery man? She left everything behind; her clothes, medications she needed for her health problems, even her identification. Was she hanging back on the trail, hoping for the opportunity to sneak away. Remember, the parking area was close by. Polly was no longer able to drive. Was someone waiting in a car to sweep her away? Perhaps when she raced ahead she headed for the parking lot and ran away to begin a new life.

There were some curious occurrences leading up to Polly’s disappearance. The day she disappeared she was scheduled to volunteer at the Presbyterian Nutrition Center serving food to senior citizens at her church. For unknown reasons, she decided not to go. This was uncharacteristic behavior for Polly who was dedicated to her service at the center. Also, while Polly never used the Center’s telephone, the day before she went missing she made several calls. Is it possible she was making arrangements for the following day?

Polly’s mother had died recently and her minister told investigators she had been mourning the loss. She had experienced some depression. He said he didn’t think Polly would have harmed herself. However, her husband, Bob, had a bottle of Valium that went missing the day of the disappearance. Had Polly been more depressed than others realized? Did she take the pills, planning to commit suicide? Was it possible she took the pills and became disoriented, wandered into the woods, and lost consciousness?

Since the trail was so close to the parking lot, some speculated she might have been kidnapped. Granted, Polly was 5’11” tall and weighed between one hundred and seventy, and one hundred and eighty pounds, but it was still possible she could have been taken. This trail is popular and well traveled. So, even though it’s possible, it’s highly unlikely she would have been abducted or killed.

There’s a curious postscript to this mystery. Seven months after her disappearance a bank issued a check to Polly. The check was cashed at a bank in Alabama. It just happens Polly’s family was from Alabama. Unfortunately, investigators were never able to identify who cashed the check.

No sign of Polly Melton has ever been found. Whether she ran off with a lover to settle somewhere else, or if she somehow wandered into the woods, got lost, and subsequently died, her life ends in mystery.

If you have any information on the cold case disappearance of Polly Melton, please contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation or the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation.