Financial Reporting by Business Segments - Segments Internal Financial Reports (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 266,070,000	$ 221,196,000	$ 245,183,000	$ 222,113,000	$ 266,321,000	$ 228,129,000	$ 253,229,000	$ 238,915,000	$ 954,562,000	$ 986,594,000	$ 952,144,000
Depreciation and amortization	27,549,000	27,916,000	29,054,000	32,009,000	37,302,000	30,701,000	30,254,000	32,434,000	116,528,000	130,691,000	125,289,000
REIT conversion costs									(22,190,000)	(101,964,000)
Casualty loss									(54,000)	(858,000)	(1,225,000)
Preopening costs										(340,000)	(408,000)
Operating income (loss)	29,726,000	19,803,000	28,903,000	(2,244,000)	(24,597,000)	(33,449,000)	31,608,000	21,684,000	76,188,000	(4,754,000)	79,531,000
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(60,916,000)	(58,582,000)	(74,673,000)
Interest income									12,267,000	12,307,000	12,460,000
Income from unconsolidated companies									10,000	109,000	1,086,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(4,200,000)							(4,181,000)
Other gains and (losses), net									2,447,000	22,251,000	(916,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes and discontinued operations	17,970,000	5,783,000	14,584,000	(12,522,000)	(16,179,000)	(43,253,000)	20,287,000	10,476,000	25,815,000	(28,669,000)	17,488,000
Identifiable assets	2,424,629,000				2,532,451,000				2,424,629,000	2,532,451,000
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	282,000				328,000				282,000	328,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Hospitality [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									878,509,000	916,041,000	886,634,000
Depreciation and amortization									103,147,000	107,343,000	109,521,000
Operating income (loss)									121,556,000	150,210,000	130,939,000
Identifiable assets	2,237,888,000				2,340,342,000				2,237,888,000	2,340,342,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Opry and Attractions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									76,053,000	70,553,000	65,510,000
Depreciation and amortization									5,368,000	5,119,000	5,261,000
Operating income (loss)									14,157,000	13,305,000	8,884,000
Identifiable assets	79,770,000				86,078,000				79,770,000	86,078,000
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues
Depreciation and amortization									8,013,000	18,229,000	10,507,000
Operating income (loss)									(34,305,000)	(65,107,000)	(58,659,000)
Identifiable assets	106,689,000				105,703,000				106,689,000	105,703,000
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REIT conversion costs									(22,190,000)	(101,964,000)
Casualty loss									(54,000)	(858,000)	(1,225,000)
Preopening costs										(340,000)	(408,000)
Impairment and other charges (non-REIT conversion costs)									$ (2,976,000)