| **Notes Receivable, net (Parenthetical) (Details) (USD $)**                                                                                                                                                                                            | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|
| **Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                       |          |          |
| Deferred profit                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | $ 29,768,000  | $ 27,962,000  |
| 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]**                                                                                                                                                                                       |          |          |
| Unamortized discount                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0             | 0             |
| Note receivable, maturity date                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 2024-12       | 2024-12       |
| 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% | Minimum                                                                    |          |          |
| **Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                       |          |          |
| Notes receivable, effective interest rate                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 5.73%         | 5.73%         |
| 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% | Maximum                                                                    |          |          |
| **Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                       |          |          |
| Notes receivable, effective interest rate                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 8.00%         | 8.00%         |
| Interest bearing homebuilder notes, secured by the real estate sold — 4.0% interest rate, annual principal payments of $0.3 million, balloon payment due February and August 2015, net of deferred profit of $1.0 million at September 30, 2013 |          |          |
| **Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                       |          |          |
| Notes receivable, effective interest rate                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 4.00%         |          |
| Notes receivable, annual principal payments                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 300,000.0     |          |
| Deferred profit                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | $ 1,200,000   |          |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Annual Principal Payments
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Notes Receivable, Maturity
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**joe_NotesReceivableMaturity**Namespace Prefix:**joe_**Data Type:**xbrli:gYearMonthItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Percentage of Notes Receivable
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**joe_PercentageOfNotesReceivable**Namespace Prefix:**joe_**Data Type:**num:percentItemType**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
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
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of amortization of the discount or premium on the note or receivable which was the result of the determination of present value in cash or noncash transactions, recognized in the statement of operations for the period.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 21 -Paragraph 16 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28555-108399
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