Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 159,366	$ 111,511	$ 126,452
Amounts to reconcile net income to net cash flows provided by operating activities:
Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes	321	(13,847)	(5,877)
Depreciation and amortization	109,816	114,383	112,278
Amortization of deferred financing costs	4,863	5,505	5,959
Amortization of discount on convertible notes			8,735
Impairment and other charges		19,200
(Gain) loss on sales of long-lived assets	(1,853)	270	(25,274)
Loss on extinguishment of debt			2,148
Loss on repurchase of warrants		20,246	4,243
Write-off of deferred financing costs		1,926
Stock-based compensation expense	6,128	6,158	5,773
Changes in:
Trade receivables	7,215	(9,845)	6,594
Interest receivable	(2,517)	(4,978)	(3,142)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,148	(13,019)	11,258
Other assets and liabilities	9,114	552	3,077
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	293,601	238,062	252,224
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(117,977)	(79,815)	(58,377)
Investment in Gaylord Rockies joint venture	(70,141)
Purchase of AC Hotel			(21,206)
Proceeds from sale of Peterson LOI	6,785	10,000	9,350
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash and cash equivalents	293	(4,945)	2,759
Other investing activities	1,799	123	8,012
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(179,241)	(74,637)	(59,462)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Net borrowings (repayments) under credit facility	76,000	(280,100)	77,000
Net borrowings (repayments) under term loan B	(4,000)	(4,000)	398,000
Issuance of senior notes		400,000
Repayment of note payable related to purchase of AC Hotel	(6,000)
Repurchase and conversion of convertible notes			(358,710)
Repurchase of common stock warrants		(154,681)	(177,423)
Deferred financing costs paid		(11,155)	(8,428)
Repurchase of Company stock for retirement	(24,811)
Payment of dividends	(151,160)	(131,305)	(109,414)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,702	1,776	6,862
Payment of tax withholdings for share-based compensation	(3,235)	(3,700)	(5,220)
Other financing activities	(19)	(377)	(600)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(111,523)	(183,542)	(177,933)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	2,837	(20,117)	14,829
Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted, beginning of period	56,291	76,408	61,579
Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted, end of period	$ 59,128	$ 56,291	$ 76,408