Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Rooms									$ 404,457	$ 384,185	$ 357,313
Food and beverage									461,157	437,673	403,725
Other hotel revenue									128,989	132,308	117,471
Entertainment (previously Opry and Attractions)									97,521	86,825	76,053
Total revenues	$ 312,120	$ 252,820	$ 274,036	$ 253,148	$ 291,612	$ 245,015	$ 257,913	$ 246,451	1,092,124	1,040,991	954,562
Operating expenses:
Rooms									110,067	111,864	103,171
Food and beverage									261,580	248,358	237,153
Other hotel expenses									312,989	311,836	298,830
Management fees									14,657	16,151	14,652
Total hotel operating expenses									699,293	688,209	653,806
Entertainment (previously Opry and Attractions)									67,363	59,815	56,528
Corporate									28,914	27,573	26,292
REIT conversion costs									0	0	22,190
Casualty loss											54
Preopening costs									909	11
Impairment and other charges									19,200		2,976
Depreciation and amortization	28,916	28,498	28,399	28,570	28,010	28,033	28,232	28,003	114,383	112,278	116,528
Total operating expenses									930,062	887,886	878,374
Operating income	36,389	32,768	57,015	35,890	43,739	29,083	47,486	32,797	162,062	153,105	76,188
Interest expense									(63,901)	(61,447)	(60,916)
Interest income									12,384	12,075	12,267
Loss on extinguishment of debt										(2,148)	(4,181)
Other gains and (losses), net									(10,889)	23,400	2,332
Income before income taxes	30,469	22,079	42,255	4,853	61,582	14,667	28,567	20,169	99,656	124,985	25,690
Benefit for income taxes	8,430	4,612	(866)	(321)	1,096	463	(576)	484	11,855	1,467	92,662
Net income	38,899	26,691	41,389	4,532	62,678	15,130	27,991	20,653	111,511	126,452	118,352
Loss on call spread and warrant modifications related to convertible notes							(5,000)			(5,417)	(4,869)
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 38,899	$ 26,691	$ 41,389	$ 4,532	$ 62,213	$ 15,130	$ 23,039	$ 20,653	$ 111,511	$ 121,035	$ 113,483
Basic income per share available to common stockholders:	$ 0.76	$ 0.52	$ 0.81	$ 0.09	$ 1.22	$ 0.30	$ 0.45	$ 0.41	$ 2.18	$ 2.38	$ 2.22
Fully diluted income per share available to common stockholders:	$ 0.75	$ 0.52	$ 0.80	$ 0.09	$ 1.21	$ 0.25	$ 0.38	$ 0.32	2.16	2.17	1.81
Dividends declared per common share									$ 2.70	$ 2.20	$ 2.00