The Wild Men

The story of Dennis Martin, who went missing during a family camping trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The men of the Martin family planned on a very special weekend trip for Father’s Day in June of 1969. The trip was a family tradition and would make for another memorable boys getaway between William Martin, his 2 young boys Douglas and Dennis (6 y/o), and his own father Clyde. The plan was to start at Cade’s Cove, a valley in the Tennessee portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and hike up to Russell Field for an overnight camp, then hike from there to Spence Field and camp overnight again before finishing the loop.

On the second day, June 14th, once they were situated at Spence Field, the family met another family at the campsite who were visiting from Louisiana. While the adults made friends with their camping neighbors and started the fire, the 2 Martin boys and the 2 boys from the other family started planning a little prank for the adults. They would split off around the site and hide behind bushes and trees, then jump out and surprise the parents for a world class sneak-attack. The parents knew of course what the kids were up to, but as parents do, they went along with the harmless fun.