The Mysterious Disappearances of Roan Mountain State Park: The Larry Davenport Case
The allure of Roan Mountain State Park, nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, draws thousands of visitors annually to its stunning natural beauty. In July 1983, this picturesque setting became the backdrop for two mysterious disappearances that occurred just weeks apart in nearly identical locations. The eeriness of these incidents lies not only in their proximity but in the puzzling circumstances surrounding each case.
The first incident involved 8-year-old Michael Reel, who was eventually found in forested farmland north of the park after confused search efforts. Just two weeks later, 20-year-old Larry Davenport vanished during a family picnic near the famous Rhododendron Gardens. Davenport, a carpenter and college student from Burnsville, North Carolina, simply walked away from his group and disappeared for three days before emerging miles southwest of his last known location. While officials expressed relief at finding both individuals alive, questions remain about what truly happened during these parallel disappearances.
Key Takeaways
Two individuals disappeared from nearly identical locations in Roan Mountain State Park within a two-week period in July 1983.
Misleading sightings and confusion hampered search efforts in both mysterious cases.
Though both victims were eventually found alive, the official explanations have left investigators with lingering questions about the true nature of these incidents.
The Mysteries of Roan Mountain State Park
Roan Mountain State Park harbors peculiar incidents that have puzzled investigators for decades. In July 1983, the park became the focal point of two strange disappearances occurring just weeks apart, creating an unsettling pattern in this serene Appalachian setting.
The first incident involved 8-year-old Michael Reel, who vanished in early July. Search efforts were complicated by confusing sightings that placed the young boy in the Rhododendron Gardens, where tourists reported glimpses of a small blonde child moving through the colorful bushes, seemingly evading rescue. He was eventually found in a forested farmland area north of the park.
Just two weeks later, on July 17, 1983, 20-year-old Larry Davenport disappeared under equally mysterious circumstances. The carpenter and student from Burnsville, North Carolina was enjoying a picnic with his girlfriend and about thirteen others near the famous Rhododendron Gardens. The weather was hot, with temperatures reaching the upper 80s.
The Disappearance Timeline:
Around 2:00 PM: Larry ate a small amount of food before simply walking away
Initial reaction: His companions assumed he went for water or to use the bathroom
After 4 hours: The group conducted their own search
By evening: Authorities were notified when Larry couldn't be found
The response to Davenport's disappearance differed significantly from the earlier case. Mitchell County Sheriff deployed only about 20 men, including deputies, firefighters, and paramedics. Bloodhounds from Avery County arrived at 11:30 PM, with Haywood County's dogs joining the effort the following morning.
Despite these efforts, by Monday afternoon the tracking dogs had found no trace of Davenport. Sheriff Ki held initially delayed a full-scale search until the dogs could cover the area, but when this approach failed, the strategy had to change.
The most bewildering aspect of the case emerged three days later, when Davenport was found alive, having somehow traveled miles southwest of his original location. While authorities expressed relief at finding him alive, numerous questions remained about his experience and how he managed to survive in the wilderness.
These parallel incidents, occurring in nearly identical locations within such a short timeframe, have led some investigators to question whether there might be deeper connections between the cases that haven't been fully explored.
Disappearance Clusters in July 1983
The summer of 1983 brought unusual attention to Roan Mountain State Park when two individuals vanished from nearly identical locations just two weeks apart. These cases, while seemingly unrelated at first glance, have generated significant interest among investigators due to their proximity in both time and location. The disappearances occurred in one of the Appalachian range's most picturesque settings, known for its stunning rhodododendron gardens that attract numerous visitors each year.
The Case of Michael Reel
Eight-year-old Michael Reel disappeared in early July 1983, prompting an extensive search throughout Roan Mountain State Park and surrounding areas. The search effort faced significant challenges due to conflicting reports about his last known location. Several tourists reported sightings of a small blonde boy matching Michael's description in the Rhododendron Gardens area, claiming they saw him darting between colorful bushes, apparently avoiding detection.
These reported sightings led search teams away from where the child was eventually found. After days of searching, an Eastern Tennessee Rescue Squad recovered Michael from a wooded farmland area north of the park. The discrepancy between where he was ultimately found and where witnesses claimed to have seen him remains one of the puzzling aspects of this case.
The Vanishing of Larry Davenport
On July 17, 1983, just a week after Michael Reel's recovery, 20-year-old Larry Davenport went missing from virtually the same area. Davenport, a carpenter and student at M Technical College from Burnsville, North Carolina, had been enjoying a picnic with his girlfriend and thirteen others about a quarter mile from the Rhododendron Gardens. Weather reports indicate it was a hot day with temperatures reaching the upper 80s.
According to Mitchell County Sheriff's Department dispatcher Anna Rose Bird, Davenport "ate a little and just got up and walked away" around 2:00 PM. Some reports suggest he may have simply "stepped off the path" during a hike. His companions initially assumed he had gone for water or to use the restroom, but grew concerned after his extended absence.
Search Effort Timeline:
Group searched for 4 hours before alerting authorities
Mitchell County Sheriff deployed a team of 20 men
Bloodhounds from Avery County arrived at 11:30 PM
Haywood County dogs arrived on scene at 10:30 AM the next day
Unlike the extensive search for Michael Reel, Sheriff Ki Held chose a more measured approach, delaying a full-scale manhunt until tracking dogs could cover the area. However, by Monday afternoon, the bloodhounds had found no trace of Davenport, forcing officials to reconsider their strategy.
Davenport would eventually emerge from the woods three days later, miles to the southwest of his original location. While authorities expressed relief at finding the young man alive, some investigators have since questioned the official explanation of his disappearance.
Search Complications in the Initial Phase
Confusion Surrounding Michael Reel's Whereabouts
The search effort for 8-year-old Michael Reel in Roan Mountain State Park during July 1983 faced significant early challenges due to contradictory information about his location. Multiple reported sightings placed the boy miles from where he was eventually found, creating a scattered and inefficient search pattern. Several tourists claimed to have spotted a small blonde child moving through the Rhododendron Gardens high on Roan Mountain, describing how he seemed to be deliberately avoiding rescue by darting between the colorful bushes. These sightings diverted valuable resources and search teams to the gardens area, while Michael was ultimately discovered in a forested farmland section north of the park. The misdirection cost the search teams critical time and complicated the coordination of rescue efforts during the first crucial hours after his disappearance.
Search Delays in the Larry Davenport Case
The response to Larry Davenport's disappearance on July 17, 1983, suffered from both delayed reporting and a measured initial approach by authorities. After the 20-year-old carpenter walked away from a picnic with his girlfriend and thirteen others, approximately a quarter-mile from the Rhododendron Gardens, his companions spent four hours searching for him before contacting officials. This significant time gap between his disappearance and the official notification hampered early search efforts.
Sheriff Ki Held's approach to the search differed markedly from the Michael Reel operation just two weeks earlier:
Only 20 men (deputies, firemen, and paramedics) were initially deployed
Bloodhounds from Avery County didn't arrive until 11:30 PM that night
Additional tracking dogs from Haywood County arrived 11 hours later
The sheriff deliberately delayed a full-scale search until the dogs could cover the area
This strategic decision to wait for tracking dogs before launching a comprehensive search consumed valuable time, especially problematic as the bloodhounds failed to find any trace of Davenport by late Monday afternoon. The Mitchell County Sheriff's Department ultimately had to change tactics when this methodical approach proved unsuccessful, further delaying the comprehensive search for the missing college student.
Examining the Coincidental Disappearances
Pattern of Vanishings
The two disappearances at Roane Mountain State Park in July 1983 reveal striking parallels despite involving individuals of different ages and backgrounds. Michael Reel, an 8-year-old boy, went missing in early July, while Larry Davenport, a 20-year-old carpenter and college student from Burnsville, disappeared on July 17th—just two weeks later. Both incidents created confusion for search teams.
The recovery efforts in both cases followed similar trajectories. Initial searches were complicated by misleading information or unclear circumstances. In Michael's case, reported sightings placed him miles from where he was eventually found, with witnesses claiming to have seen him in the Rhododendron Gardens area.
Larry's disappearance occurred during a picnic with his girlfriend and others. According to reports, he simply "got up and walked away" after eating lunch around 2:00 PM, wearing only jeans after removing his shirt and shoes due to the heat. His companions initially assumed he had gone for water or to use the restroom.
The Significance of the Rhododendron Gardens
The Rhododendron Gardens atop Roane Mountain represent a critical location in both disappearance cases. This natural landmark, known for its stunning beauty within the Appalachian range, connects both incidents in unexpected ways.
In Michael Reel's case, multiple witnesses reported seeing the blonde boy darting between the colorful bushes in the gardens, seemingly avoiding rescue attempts. These sightings drew search teams to this area, though the boy was ultimately found in forested farmland north of the park.
For Larry Davenport, the picnic location was approximately a quarter-mile from the gardens themselves. The timing is particularly notable—his disappearance occurred during peak summer when the gardens would have been in full bloom, drawing numerous visitors to the area.
Search efforts for Larry took a different approach than Michael's case. The response team was smaller, with only about 20 men including deputies, firemen, and paramedics. Bloodhounds from Avery County arrived at 11:30 PM the night of his disappearance, followed by Haywood County dogs the next morning, but no trace of Davenport was found through this method.
Unlike Michael's case with its widespread search, Sheriff Ki Held initially focused on allowing tracking dogs to cover the area before launching a full-scale human search operation.
Law Enforcement Response and Community Engagement
Search and Recovery Operations
The Mitchell County Sheriff's Department initially deployed a modest team of about 20 individuals to locate Larry Davenport, including deputies, firefighters, and paramedics. This approach differed significantly from the search for Michael Reel just two weeks earlier. Blood hounds from Avery County arrived at 11:30 p.m. on the night of Davenport's disappearance, with additional canine units from Haywood County joining approximately 11 hours later at 10:30 a.m. the following day. Sheriff Ki held initially prioritized tracking dogs rather than conducting a full-scale human search, hoping the animals would pick up Davenport's scent.
The tracking strategy proved unsuccessful, with no trace of Davenport found by late Monday afternoon. This forced authorities to reevaluate their approach as the young man had been missing for over 24 hours at this point. The search area presented significant challenges, as the Rhododendron Gardens and surrounding wilderness contained dense vegetation and difficult terrain.
For three days, search teams combed through the rugged landscape of Roan Mountain State Park. Unlike the earlier case involving Michael Reel, where confusion about the disappearance location hampered initial efforts, searchers had a clearer starting point with Davenport's last known location near the picnic site.
Public and Media Involvement
Local newspapers provided ongoing coverage of the disappearance, though with some inconsistencies in reporting. The Kingsport Times News described Davenport as having "stepped off the path" while hiking, whereas other sources like the Charlotte Observer and Johnson City Press reported he had simply walked away from a picnic. These discrepancies in media reporting potentially created confusion among the public following the case.
Regional publications including the Elizabethton Star provided contextual details such as weather conditions on the day of Davenport's disappearance, noting temperatures in the upper 80s. The Charlotte Observer's Western North Carolina Bureau, with reporter Bruce Henderson, delivered some of the most detailed coverage of the search efforts.
Unlike some missing persons cases that generate significant volunteer participation, reports indicate that the official response team handled most of the search operations. The fact that two disappearances occurred in nearly the same location within a two-week period did, however, capture public attention throughout the region. Community concern grew as the days passed without any sign of the 20-year-old carpenter and technical college student from Burnsville.
Alternative Views and Theories
The Roan Mountain State Park disappearances of July 1983 have sparked several competing explanations beyond the official accounts. Some researchers question the coincidence of two individuals vanishing in nearly identical locations within a two-week timeframe.
Several witnesses reported seeing 8-year-old Michael Reel in the Rhododendron Gardens area, seemingly avoiding rescue while darting between colorful bushes. This behavior struck many as unusual for a lost child who would typically seek help. These sightings occurred miles from where Michael was eventually found.
Larry Davenport's case presents similar peculiarities. His abrupt departure from a family picnic without explanation, followed by a three-day absence before emerging miles southwest of his starting point, has raised questions about the official narrative. The shifting details in news reports—with some stating the group was hiking when he "stepped off the path" while others described a picnic scenario—have only deepened suspicions.
The search efforts for both individuals differed significantly in scale and approach. Michael's search involved considerable confusion about his location, while Larry's search began with a much smaller team and bloodhounds that failed to detect any trace of him. These disparities have led some investigators to suggest possible connections between the cases.
The geographical significance cannot be overlooked. Both disappearances occurred in the Great Smoky Mountains region, an area known for other mysterious vanishings. Some theorists point to this pattern as evidence of environmental factors, predators, or even more unusual explanations that might account for the cluster of cases in this specific area.
Weather conditions may have played a role in both incidents. The July heat (upper 80s) could have contributed to disorientation or impaired decision-making, especially if either person became dehydrated while traversing the challenging terrain.
Revisiting Larry Davenport's Experience
On July 17, 1983, Larry Davenport, a 20-year-old carpenter and student at M Technical College from Burnsville, North Carolina, disappeared in Roan Mountain State Park. He was enjoying a picnic with his girlfriend and approximately 13 others, mostly her family and friends, in an area about a quarter mile from the famous Rhododendron Gardens.
The weather that day was particularly warm, with temperatures reaching the upper 80s. Davenport had dressed lightly, wearing only jeans after removing his shoes and shirt to cope with the midsummer heat.
Around 2:00 PM, the group settled down for lunch. According to Mitchell County Sheriff's Department dispatcher Ana Rose Bird, "Larry ate a little and he just got up and walked away." There was no clear indication why he left the picnic area, but his companions initially assumed he had gone for water or to use the restroom.
After Davenport failed to return, the group began searching for him themselves. When four hours passed with no sign of the young man, they contacted authorities in Mitchell County. The official response was notably smaller than the search for eight-year-old Michael Reel just two weeks earlier in the same area. Sheriff Ki held deployed only about 20 men, including deputies, firefighters, and paramedics.
The search timeline progressed as follows:
11:30 PM: Bloodhounds from Avery County, North Carolina arrived
10:30 AM (next day): Additional dogs from Haywood County joined the search
By late Monday afternoon, the bloodhounds had found no trace of Davenport. Sheriff Ki held had initially delayed a full-scale human search, preferring to let the tracking dogs cover the area first. When this approach proved unsuccessful, the strategy needed to change.
This disappearance was particularly notable as it occurred in almost exactly the same location as Michael Reel's disappearance just two weeks earlier. While the two individuals—an 8-year-old schoolboy and a 20-year-old carpenter—seemed to have little in common, the proximity and timing of their disappearances raised questions for investigators.
