High Definition Gatlinburg Web Cam

Would you like to see a new High Definition Downtown Gatlinburg Web Cam?

UPDATE May 12 2014: Thank you for the support everyone. After several months we have concluded there just is not enough participants to support a new Gatlinburg area webcam. Thanks again to everyone, We tried!!!

At GSMVRO we have received many questions, concerns and complaints about Gatlinburg web cams that are not functioning despite the fact we do not own or manage any of them! We feel your pain! And have grown somewhat weary of the Smoky Mountains Webcams inconsistencies.

So here is our proposition: We(GSMVRO) would consider taking over and managing some of the non working Gatlinburg webcam locations such as the location in the photo above. If… (Keep reading below)

What we have learned after some initial research:

High Definition(H.264) pan, tilt and zoom webcams with heaters and fans built in that are capable of running in extreme weather(snow,rain) cost in excess of $2000. Extremely reliable webcam hosting services that can handle the high definition(H.264) bandwidth and 1000+ simultaneous viewers at a time and 30k to 40K plus viewers per month is expensive(over $200+ per month) If GSMVRO could obtain a reasonable number of willing subscribers to help offset the cost of maintaining a new HD webcam with quality exceeding any other Gatlinburg cam we would seriously consider hosting that camera. but…

Our big Question to Our blog Readers: Would 50 cents per month or say a $6 per year subscription be worth it and a fair amount to view the downtown Parkway in high definition with 99% up time? This would be a private cam that only subscribers could view. If we get enough response we will look into this scenario further. Please leave your comment below if you would be interested in subscribing to such a service. We kindly ask you not to tell us you know how/can install and run a Gatlinburg webcam for free or $30 a month etc, if you can do that then let us know when your personal Gatlinburg cam is ready to view and we will gladly add your cam to our webcam page. GSMVRO has no interest in hosting a cheap, low resolution/blurry tiny screen web cam that crashes every time more than 3 people view it at once or encounters a few rain drops or bad weather!!! I think we all have seen enough of broken web cams already. In all fairness keeping webcams running year round is much more complicated than you might imagine so congrats to those who have done a successful job with their cams. If GSMVRO is going to undertake this project we are going to do it right or not at all. Our goal would be to make the camera viewer feel as close to being here in Gatlinburg as possible. See the following link for an example of an HD Web Cam whose  broadcast quality we would strive to acheive:
HD WEB CAM EXAMPLE Click Here Note: When page opens click bottom right corner of viewer to see full screen
“A Large screen super clear Gatlinburg cam that delivers incredible resolution and works 99% of the time regardless of the weather or high viewer traffic is the least we will settle for!!!”

We hope you all agree. Let us know if you like the idea in the comments below?

This Post Has 80 Comments

  1. Tamy

    We come to Gatlinburg every summer and fall. We love to come visit as it is beautiful and we have a very nice time. When we are at home I enjoy looking at the web cams which makes me keep wanting to come back, So you take the free webcams away and want us to pay for a hi def cam, you are only showing us one still photo, half of the time the web cams are not working. I have found other sights that show the web cams even better. We spend A LOT of money when we come to your town so it would be ridiculous to spend money on a hi def cam. I am always showing friends/family the web cams which makes them want to come to Gatlinburg. So please bring the other ones back!

  2. Lisa

    Count me and my husband in, we love to look and see the weather and say let’s go!!! It is like a mini vacation to just watch the cams from home… Would like to see more than one though if possible…..

  3. Gordy

    I would gladly pay for a great web cam to get my Smoky Mountain fix. I’ve been there and I’m going back and If you really love Gatlinburg you will use it especially after you leave. I certainly will.

  4. Carol Hoffman

    waiting to hear if this proposed service with be implemented!

  5. Carol Hoffman

    $6.00/year is insanely cheap for the privilege of connecting with Gatlinburg. I am not only a visitor but I own a home in the Arts &Crafts community and am planning to relocate from New York within this next year. I love to see the moving life in the place I plan to call home. it sustains me while I wait for the appropriate time to move!!!

  6. bill r

    sign me up ,like seeing whats going on when i can”t get up there

  7. Goat

    I’m in, let me know how much

  8. Holly

    We love Gatlinburg and visit the webcam frequently. So, we would definitely be interested in this!!

  9. Edward

    Let me know where to sign up!

  10. Jeannie

    Yes,, I would pay $6 a year to view the cam.

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