| **Notes Receivable, net (Details) (USD $)In Thousands, unless otherwise specified**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|
| **Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |          |          |
| Notes receivable                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | $ 6,938       | $ 7,332       |
| Pier Park Community Development District notes, non-interest bearing, due December 2024, net of unamortized discount of $0.1 million, effective rates 5.73% — 8.0%                                                                                                                                                      |          |          |
| **Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |          |          |
| Notes receivable                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 2,623         | 2,623         |
| Interest bearing homebuilder notes, secured by the real estate sold — 4.0% interest rate, annual principal payments of $0.3 million, any remaining payments outstanding are due February and August 2015, net of deferred profit of $0.3 million and $0.7 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively |          |          |
| **Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |          |          |
| Notes receivable                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 3,676         | 4,062         |
| Notes receivable, number of note holders                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 1             |          |
| Various mortgage notes, secured by certain real estate bearing interest at various rates                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |          |          |
| **Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |          |          |
| Notes receivable                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | $ 639         | $ 647         |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Number of Note Holders
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**joe_NotesLoansandFinancingReceivableNumberofNoteHolders**Namespace Prefix:**joe_**Data Type:**xbrli:integerItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Net amount of the investment in a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in the creditor's statement of financial position. Examples include, but are not limited to, credit card receivables, notes receivable and receivables relating to lessor's rights to payments from leases other than operating leases that have been recorded as assets. Excludes trade accounts receivable with contractual maturity of one year or less and arose from the sale of goods or services.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 3 -Article 5
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |