| **Investments - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)**                                               | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| Debt securities                                                                                          | $ 609,920,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities                                                                                                                                                                        |   |   |
| Preferred stock                                                                                          | 26,958,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities                                                                                                                                                                         |   |   |
| Gain (loss) on sale of investments                                                                       | (833,000)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments                                                                                                                                                                                               | 93,000us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments | 0us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments |
| Sales of investments                                                                                     | 83,239,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities                                                                                                                                                                       | 7,725,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities | 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities |
| Maturities of investments                                                                                | 150,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities                                                                                                                                             | 100,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities |   |
| Gross unrealized losses                                                                                  | 1,487,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax                                                                                                                                                   | 2,213,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax |   |
| Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings, Additions, No Previous Impairment | 1,295,000us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment                                                                                                                           | 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment | 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment |
| U.S. treasury securities                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| Debt securities                                                                                          | 509,800,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember                                                                                     |   |   |
| Number of securities with net unrealized losses                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 0joe_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesNumberofSecuritiesWithNetUnrealizedLosses/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |   |
| Gross unrealized losses                                                                                  | 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember                                                                      | 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |   |
| Corporate debt securities                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| Debt securities                                                                                          | 100,100,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember                                                                                  | 22,000,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember |   |
| Gross unrealized losses                                                                                  | 1,482,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember                                                           | 2,213,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember |   |
| Recurring basis | Money market funds                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| Money market funds                                                                                       | 19,971,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember            | 1,761,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember |   |
| Securities of any one issuer (excluding the U.S. Government)                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| Available For Sale Securities, Preferred Stock, One Issuer                                               | $ 23,700,000joe_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesPreferredStockOneIssuer/ invest_InvestmentIssuerAxis= joe_SingleIssuerExcludingUSGovernmentMember                                                                                          |   |   |
| Cash, investment grade cash equivalents or U.S. treasury securities | Minimum                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| Investments, target portfolio allocations                                                                | 50.00%joe_InvestmentsTargetPortfolioAllocations/ invest_InvestmentAxis= joe_CashInvestmentGradeCashEquivalentsorU.S.TreasurySecuritiesMember/ us-gaap_RangeAxis= us-gaap_MinimumMember                                               |   |   |
| Corporate debt securities | Maximum                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| Investments, target portfolio allocations                                                                | 15.00%joe_InvestmentsTargetPortfolioAllocations/ invest_InvestmentAxis= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember/ us-gaap_RangeAxis= us-gaap_MaximumMember                                                                              |   |   |
| Other aggregated investments | Minimum | Securities of any one issuer (excluding the U.S. Government)    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| Investments, target portfolio allocations                                                                | 10.00%joe_InvestmentsTargetPortfolioAllocations/ invest_InvestmentAxis= us-gaap_OtherAggregatedInvestmentsMember/ invest_InvestmentIssuerAxis= joe_SingleIssuerExcludingUSGovernmentMember/ us-gaap_RangeAxis= us-gaap_MinimumMember |   |   |
| Other aggregated investments | Maximum | Securities of any one issuer (excluding the U.S. Government)    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| Investments, target portfolio allocations                                                                | 15.00%joe_InvestmentsTargetPortfolioAllocations/ invest_InvestmentAxis= us-gaap_OtherAggregatedInvestmentsMember/ invest_InvestmentIssuerAxis= joe_SingleIssuerExcludingUSGovernmentMember/ us-gaap_RangeAxis= us-gaap_MaximumMember |   |   |
| Investor | Fairholme Capital Management, L.L.C.                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| **Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]**                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |   |
| Common stock ownership percentage                                                                        | 27.10%joe_EntityCommonStockOwnershipPercentage/ us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis= joe_FairholmeCapitalManagementL.L.C.Member/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis= us-gaap_InvestorMember                                 |   |   |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Available-for-sale Securities, Number of Securities With Net Unrealized Losses
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No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Available For Sale Securities, Preferred Stock, One Issuer
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Percentage of common stock of the reporting entity owned by a third party.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Investments, Target Portfolio Allocations
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount before tax of unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale.
+ References
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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of debt securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor as trading.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.
+ References
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|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This item represents the net total realized and unrealized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling or holding marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, including the unrealized holding gain (loss) of held-to-maturity securities transferred to the trading security category and the cumulative unrealized gain (loss) which was included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity) for available-for-sale securities transferred to trading securities during the period. Additionally, this item would include any gains (losses) realized during the period from the sale of investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting and losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments.
+ References
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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which no such other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was previously recognized.
+ References
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|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The cash inflow associated with maturities (principal being due), prepayments and calls (requests of early payments) on securities not classified as either held-to-maturity securities or trading securities which are classified as available-for-sale securities.
+ References
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|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The cash inflow associated with the sale of debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities.
+ References
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