Information Concerning Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017
ASSETS:
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	$ 2,126,764	$ 2,065,657
Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted	86,025	57,557	$ 62,672
Cash and cash equivalents - restricted	38,372	21,153	$ 14,703
Notes receivable	108,696	111,423
Investment in Gaylord Rockies joint venture	89,403	88,685
Trade receivables, less allowance	80,595	57,520
Deferred income tax assets, net	40,449	50,117
Prepaid expenses and other assets	74,341	72,116
Total assets	2,644,645	2,524,228
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Debt and capital lease obligations	1,693,427	1,591,392
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	214,711	179,649
Dividends payable	44,668	42,129
Deferred management rights proceeds	174,784	177,057
Other liabilities	159,560	155,845
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	513	512
Additional paid-in-capital	898,845	896,759
Treasury stock	(14,195)	(13,253)
Accumulated deficit	(504,577)	(479,170)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(23,091)	(26,692)
Total stockholders' equity	357,495	378,156
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,644,645	2,524,228
Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted	58	38
Prepaid expenses and other assets	230
Investments	995,468	1,006,461
Total assets	995,756	1,006,499
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	82	150
Dividends payable	44,668	42,129
Intercompany payables, net	593,511	586,064
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	513	512
Additional paid-in-capital	898,845	896,759
Treasury stock	(14,195)	(13,253)
Accumulated deficit	(504,577)	(479,170)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(23,091)	(26,692)
Total stockholders' equity	357,495	378,156
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	995,756	1,006,499
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted	2,508	759
Prepaid expenses and other assets	58
Investments	2,890,033	2,890,032
Total assets	2,892,599	2,890,791
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Debt and capital lease obligations	1,692,803	1,590,753
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	22,793	11,180
Intercompany payables, net	969,127	895,408
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Additional paid-in-capital	542,991	671,875
Accumulated deficit	(335,116)	(278,426)
Total stockholders' equity	207,876	393,450
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,892,599	2,890,791
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	1,647,468	1,640,274
Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted	192	36
Deferred income tax assets, net	(336)	(301)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	2	5
Intercompany receivables, net	1,846,754	1,717,157
Investments	650,362	651,006
Total assets	4,144,442	4,008,177
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	5,376	15,795
Other liabilities	98,821	95,078
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Additional paid-in-capital	2,835,468	2,835,468
Accumulated deficit	1,204,776	1,061,835
Total stockholders' equity	4,040,245	3,897,304
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	4,144,442	4,008,177
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	479,296	425,383
Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted	83,267	56,724
Cash and cash equivalents - restricted	38,372	21,153
Notes receivable	108,696	111,423
Investment in Gaylord Rockies joint venture	89,403	88,685
Trade receivables, less allowance	80,595	57,520
Deferred income tax assets, net	40,785	50,418
Prepaid expenses and other assets	74,051	72,111
Investments	1,384,814	1,364,814
Total assets	2,379,279	2,248,231
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Debt and capital lease obligations	624	639
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	186,460	152,524
Deferred management rights proceeds	174,784	177,057
Other liabilities	60,739	60,767
Intercompany payables, net	284,116	235,685
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	2,387	2,387
Additional paid-in-capital	2,093,818	2,073,818
Accumulated deficit	(400,558)	(427,954)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(23,091)	(26,692)
Total stockholders' equity	1,672,556	1,621,559
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,379,279	2,248,231
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS:
Intercompany receivables, net	(1,846,754)	(1,717,157)
Investments	(5,920,677)	(5,912,313)
Total assets	(7,767,431)	(7,629,470)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Intercompany payables, net	(1,846,754)	(1,717,157)
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(2,389)	(2,389)
Additional paid-in-capital	(5,472,277)	(5,581,161)
Accumulated deficit	(469,102)	(355,455)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	23,091	26,692
Total stockholders' equity	(5,920,677)	(5,912,313)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (7,767,431)	$ (7,629,470)