Financial Reporting by Business Segments - Segments Internal Financial Reports (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 291,612,000	$ 245,015,000	$ 257,913,000	$ 246,451,000	$ 266,070,000	$ 221,196,000	$ 245,183,000	$ 222,113,000	$ 1,040,991,000	$ 954,562,000	$ 986,594,000
Depreciation and amortization	28,010,000	28,033,000	28,232,000	28,003,000	27,549,000	27,916,000	29,054,000	32,009,000	112,278,000	116,528,000	130,691,000
REIT conversion costs										(22,190,000)	(101,964,000)
Casualty loss										(54,000)	(858,000)
Preopening costs									(11,000)		(340,000)
Impairment and other charges										(2,976,000)
Operating income (loss)	43,739,000	29,083,000	47,486,000	32,797,000	29,726,000	19,803,000	28,903,000	(2,244,000)	153,105,000	76,188,000	(4,754,000)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(61,447,000)	(60,916,000)	(58,582,000)
Interest income									12,075,000	12,267,000	12,307,000
Income from unconsolidated companies										10,000	109,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt			(2,100,000)			(4,200,000)			(2,148,000)	(4,181,000)
Other gains and (losses)									23,415,000	2,447,000	22,251,000
Income (loss) before income taxes and discontinued operations	61,633,000	14,654,000	28,555,000	20,158,000	17,970,000	5,783,000	14,584,000	(12,522,000)	125,000,000	25,815,000	(28,669,000)
Identifiable assets	2,413,146,000				2,424,629,000				2,413,146,000	2,424,629,000
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	149,000				282,000				149,000	282,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Hospitality [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									954,166,000	878,509,000	916,041,000
Depreciation and amortization									103,422,000	103,147,000	107,343,000
Operating income (loss)									162,535,000	121,556,000	150,210,000
Identifiable assets	2,207,043,000				2,237,888,000				2,207,043,000	2,237,888,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Opry and Attractions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									86,825,000	76,053,000	70,553,000
Depreciation and amortization									5,258,000	5,368,000	5,119,000
Operating income (loss)									21,752,000	14,157,000	13,305,000
Identifiable assets	80,127,000				79,770,000				80,127,000	79,770,000
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									3,598,000	8,013,000	18,229,000
Operating income (loss)									(31,171,000)	(34,305,000)	(65,107,000)
Identifiable assets	125,827,000				106,689,000				125,827,000	106,689,000
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REIT conversion costs										(22,190,000)	(101,964,000)
Casualty loss										(54,000)	(858,000)
Preopening costs									(11,000)		(340,000)
Impairment and other charges										$ (2,976,000)