| **Debt (Details) (USD $)In Thousands, unless otherwise specified**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2007 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |          |               |          |   |
| Long-term debt, excluding held-for-sale                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | $ 54,806      |               | $ 44,217      |   |
| Community Development District debt classified as liabilities held for sale                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 5,391         |               | 0             |   |
| Long term debt                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 49,415        | [1]           | 44,217        |   |
| In-substance defeased debt, interest payable monthly at 5.62% at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, secured and paid by pledged treasury securities, due October 1, 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |          |               |          |   |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |          |               |          |   |
| Long-term debt, excluding held-for-sale                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 26,111        |               | 26,260        |   |
| Long term debt                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 26,100        |               |          | 29,300 |
| Community Development District debt, secured by certain real estate and standby note purchase agreements, due May 2016 — May 2039, bearing interest at 5.25% to 7.15% at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 | Community Development District debt, secured by certain real estate and standby note purchase agreements, due May 2016 — May 2039, bearing interest at 5.25% to 7.15% at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 |          |               |          |   |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |          |               |          |   |
| Long-term debt, excluding held-for-sale                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 11,928        |               | 11,512        |   |
| Construction loan in the Pier Park North joint venture, due February 2016, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 210 basis points, or 2.26% and 2.27% at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively | Pier Park North Joint Venture Construction Loan                                                                                                                                                                                      |          |               |          |   |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |          |               |          |   |
| Long-term debt, excluding held-for-sale                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | $ 16,767      |               | $ 6,445       |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| [1]Includes debt defeased in connection with the sale of the Company’s office portfolio in the amount of $26.1 million.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Long-Term Debt Held-For-Sale
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Long-Term Debt, Including Held-For-Sale
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**joe_LongTermDebtIncludingHeldForSale**Namespace Prefix:**joe_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 7Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20, 22 -Article 5Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910
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