Financial Reporting by Business Segments - Segments Internal Financial Reports (Detail) - 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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
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
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
REIT conversion costs									0	0	(22,190)
Casualty loss											(54)
Preopening costs									(909)	(11)
Impairment and other charges									(19,200)		(2,976)
Operating income (loss)	36,389	32,768	57,015	35,890	43,739	29,083	47,486	32,797	162,062	153,105	76,188
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(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)									(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
Identifiable assets	2,331,434				2,391,500				2,331,434	2,391,500
Operating Segments [Member] | Hospitality [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									994,603	954,166	878,509
Depreciation and amortization									105,876	103,422	103,147
Operating income (loss)									189,434	162,535	121,556
Identifiable assets	2,141,675				2,207,043				2,141,675	2,207,043
Operating Segments [Member] | Entertainment (Previously Opry and Attractions) [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									97,521	86,825	76,053
Depreciation and amortization									5,747	5,258	5,368
Operating income (loss)									24,411	21,752	14,157
Identifiable assets	90,167				80,127				90,167	80,127
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									2,760	3,598	8,013
Operating income (loss)									(31,674)	(31,171)	(34,305)
Identifiable assets	$ 99,592				$ 104,330				99,592	104,330
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REIT conversion costs											(22,190)
Casualty loss											(54)
Preopening costs									(909)	$ (11)
Impairment and other charges									$ (19,200)		$ (2,976)