| **Schedule IV (Consolidated) - Mortgage Loans on Real Estate** | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
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| **Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Abstract]**                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| SCHEDULE IV (CONSOLIDATED) - MORTGAGE LOANS ON REAL ESTATE     | THE ST. JOE COMPANY SCHEDULE IV (CONSOLIDATED) - MORTAGE LOANS ON REAL ESTATEDECEMBER 31, 2014(in thousands)Description Interest Rate Final Maturity Date Periodic Payment Terms Prior Liens Carrying Amount of Mortgages Principal Amount of Loans Subject to Delinquent Principal or InterestSeller financing 5.25% June 2015 (a) — $19,600 —Seller financing 4% August 2015 P&I (b)  — 1,945 —Seller financing 4% for the first twelve months; 6% for the second twelve months February 2015 (c) — 66 —Various other seller financing 5% October 2016 and December 2016 P&I (d)  — 512 —Total (e)         $22,123  (a)Annual principal payment of $1.0 million due March 2015. On the maturity date, all outstanding principal, all accrued interest and any other customary charges shall be due and payable in full.(b)Principal and interest is paid quarterly over a ten year amortization schedule. On the maturity date, all outstanding principal, all accrued interest and any other customary charges shall be due and payable in full. (c)Payments are made in varying amounts over the life to maturity.  On the maturity date, all outstanding principal, all accrued interest and any other customary charges shall be due and payable in full.(d)Principal and interest is paid monthly. (e)The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates the amount of unpaid principal.The summarized changes in the carrying amount of mortgage loans are as follows: 2014 2013 2012Balance at beginning of the year$5,354 $1,158$1,752Additions during the year - new mortgage loans19,600 5,854—Deductions during the year:     Collections of principal2,832 1,363 594Foreclosures— 295 —Balance at the end of the year$22,122 $5,354$1,158       |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for mortgage loans on real estate, this includes the supplemental information pertaining to each mortgage loan receivable that equals or exceeds three percent of the carrying amount of mortgages.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 29 -Article 12Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph c -Subparagraph Schedule IV -Article 5Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 948 -SubTopic 310 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014
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