Information Concerning Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
ASSETS:
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	$ 3,149,095	$ 2,065,657
Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted	103,437	57,557	$ 59,128
Cash and cash equivalents - restricted	45,652	21,153	$ 22,062
Notes receivable	122,209	111,423
Investment in Gaylord Rockies joint venture		88,685
Trade receivables, less allowance	67,923	57,520
Deferred income tax assets, net	40,557	50,117
Prepaid expenses and other assets	78,240	67,831
Intangible assets	246,770	4,285
Total assets	3,853,883	2,524,228
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Debt and capital lease obligations	2,441,895	1,591,392
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	274,890	179,649
Dividends payable	45,019	42,129
Deferred management rights proceeds	174,026	177,057
Other liabilities	161,043	155,845
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint venture	287,433
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	513	512
Additional paid-in-capital	900,795	896,759
Treasury stock	(15,183)	(13,253)
Accumulated deficit	(388,524)	(479,170)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(28,024)	(26,692)
Total stockholders' equity	469,577	378,156
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,853,883	2,524,228
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted	81	38
Investments	1,101,740	1,006,461
Total assets	1,101,821	1,006,499
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	50	150
Dividends payable	45,019	42,129
Intercompany payables, net	587,175	586,064
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	513	512
Additional paid-in-capital	900,795	896,759
Treasury stock	(15,183)	(13,253)
Accumulated deficit	(388,524)	(479,170)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(28,024)	(26,692)
Total stockholders' equity	469,577	378,156
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,101,821	1,006,499
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted	657	759
Prepaid expenses and other assets	34
Investments	2,950,457	2,890,032
Total assets	2,951,148	2,890,791
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Debt and capital lease obligations	1,946,699	1,590,753
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	13,752	11,180
Intercompany payables, net	846,478	895,408
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Additional paid-in-capital	499,122	671,875
Accumulated deficit	(354,904)	(278,426)
Total stockholders' equity	144,219	393,450
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,951,148	2,890,791
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	1,646,946	1,640,274
Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted	54	36
Deferred income tax assets, net	(444)	(301)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		5
Intercompany receivables, net	1,895,086	1,717,157
Investments	710,516	651,006
Total assets	4,252,158	4,008,177
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	7,253	15,795
Other liabilities	100,068	95,078
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Additional paid-in-capital	2,895,842	2,835,468
Accumulated deficit	1,248,994	1,061,835
Total stockholders' equity	4,144,837	3,897,304
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	4,252,158	4,008,177
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	1,502,149	425,383
Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted	102,645	56,724
Cash and cash equivalents - restricted	45,652	21,153
Notes receivable	122,209	111,423
Investment in Gaylord Rockies joint venture		88,685
Trade receivables, less allowance	67,923	57,520
Deferred income tax assets, net	41,001	50,418
Prepaid expenses and other assets	79,460	67,826
Intangible assets	246,770	4,285
Investments	1,898,756	1,364,814
Total assets	4,106,565	2,248,231
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Debt and capital lease obligations	495,196	639
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	255,089	152,524
Deferred management rights proceeds	174,026	177,057
Other liabilities	60,975	60,767
Intercompany payables, net	461,433	235,685
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint venture	287,433
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	2,387	2,387
Additional paid-in-capital	2,668,134	2,073,818
Accumulated deficit	(270,084)	(427,954)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(28,024)	(26,692)
Total stockholders' equity	2,372,413	1,621,559
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	4,106,565	2,248,231
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS:
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(1,254)
Intercompany receivables, net	(1,895,086)	(1,717,157)
Investments	(6,661,469)	(5,912,313)
Total assets	(8,557,809)	(7,629,470)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(1,254)
Intercompany payables, net	(1,895,086)	(1,717,157)
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(2,389)	(2,389)
Additional paid-in-capital	(6,063,098)	(5,581,161)
Accumulated deficit	(624,006)	(355,455)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	28,024	26,692
Total stockholders' equity	(6,661,469)	(5,912,313)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (8,557,809)	$ (7,629,470)