| **Accrued Liabilities and Deferred Credits - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)In Thousands, unless otherwise specified** | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |          |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|-----------------|----------|
||
| **Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Line Items]**                                                                       |           |            |     |
| Deferred revenue                                                                                                                | $ 29,768       |            | $ 27,962 |
| Florida Department of Transportation                                                                                            |           |            |     |
| **Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Line Items]**                                                                       |           |            |     |
| Deferred revenue                                                                                                                | $ 23,500       |            | $ 23,500 |
| Acres of land sold                                                                                                              |           | 3,900           |     |
| Acres of land remaining to be transferred                                                                                       | 1,595          |            |     |

| X                                                                                                                                                                         |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**joe_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**joe_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Number Of Acres Remains To Be Transferred.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**joe_NumberOfAcresRemainsToBeTransferred**Namespace Prefix:**joe_**Data Type:**num:areaItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Number Of Acres Sold
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**joe_NumberOfAcresSold**Namespace Prefix:**joe_**Data Type:**num:areaItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of deferred revenue as of balance sheet date. Deferred revenue represents collections of cash or other assets related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been recognized. Generally, an entity records deferred revenue when it receives consideration from a customer before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue to be recognized in conformity with GAAP.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 605 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 13.A.4(a).Q1 Response) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6600647&loc=d3e214044-122780Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 13 -Section A
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DeferredRevenue**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |