| **Supplementary Balance Sheet Information**      | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
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| **Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Supplementary Balance Sheet Information          | Supplementary Balance Sheet InformationThe composition of property, plant and equipment follows (in thousands):  July 31,  20122011Land and land improvements$281,729$271,742Buildings and building improvements838,780801,582Machinery and equipment563,309539,983Furniture and fixtures243,587215,862Software81,65964,408Vehicles44,79840,627Construction in progress36,97934,638Gross property, plant and equipment2,090,8411,968,842Accumulated depreciation(1,041,634)(947,106)Property, plant and equipment, net$1,049,207$1,021,736Depreciation expense for the years ended July 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 totaled $124.5 million, $116.3 million and $109.8 million, respectively.The composition of goodwill and intangible assets follows (in thousands):  July 31,  20122011Goodwill  Goodwill$287,123$285,412Accumulated amortization(17,354)(17,354)Goodwill, net269,769268,058Indefinite-lived intangible assets  Gross indefinite-lived intangible assets107,211105,838Accumulated amortization(24,713)(24,713)Indefinite-lived intangible assets, net82,49881,125Amortizable intangible assets  Gross amortizable intangible assets52,81351,850Accumulated amortization(43,241)(41,877)Amortizable intangible assets, net9,5729,973Total gross intangible assets160,024157,688Total accumulated amortization(67,954)(66,590)Total intangible assets, net$92,070$91,098Amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization for the years ended July 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 totaled $3.1 million, $1.7 million and $0.8 million, respectively, and is estimated to be approximately $1.1 million annually, on average, for the next five fiscal years.The changes in the net carrying amount of goodwill allocated between the Company’s segments for the years ended July 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows (in thousands):  Mountain    Lodging    Goodwill, net  Balance at July 31, 2010$120,615$60,470$181,085Acquisition86,973—86,973Balance at July 31, 2011207,58860,470268,058Acquisition1,785—1,785Effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates(74)—(74)Balance at July 31, 2012$209,299$60,470$269,769The composition of accounts payable and accrued liabilities follows (in thousands):  July 31,  20122011Trade payables$56,508$58,816Deferred revenue78,79366,044Accrued salaries, wages and deferred compensation21,24226,350Accrued benefits20,21622,107Deposits12,03111,741Accrued interest8,0158,511Other accruals30,73327,790Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities$227,538$221,359The composition of other long-term liabilities follows (in thousands):  July 31,  20122011Private club deferred initiation fee revenue$135,660$138,725Unfavorable lease obligation, net36,05838,729Other long-term liabilities61,15157,975Total other long-term liabilities$232,869$235,429 |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for supplemental balance sheet disclosures, including descriptions and amounts for assets, liabilities, and equity.
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