Information Concerning Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 321,919	$ 295,830	$ 293,601
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchases of property and equipment	(188,217)	(182,565)	(117,977)
Proceeds from sale of Peterson LOI			6,785
Other investing activities	(5,367)	(7,234)	4,299
Net cash used in investing activities	(423,310)	(215,421)	(179,534)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Net borrowings (repayments) under revolving credit facility	354,000	(211,400)	76,000
Repayments under term loan B	(5,000)	(393,750)	(4,000)
Repayment of note payable related to purchase of AC Hotel			(6,000)
Repurchase of Company stock for retirement			(24,811)
Deferred financing costs paid	(642)	(12,268)
Payment of dividends	(172,415)	(161,706)	(151,160)
Payment of tax withholdings for share-based compensation	(4,164)	(3,810)	(3,235)
Other financing activities	(9)	45	1,683
Net cash flows used in financing activities	171,770	(82,889)	(111,523)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	70,379	(2,480)	2,544
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period	78,710	81,190	78,646
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period	149,089	78,710	81,190
$200 Million Term Loan A [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Borrowings under term loan		200,000
$500 Million Term Loan B [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Borrowings under term loan		500,000
Gaylord Rockies [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Investment in joint venture		(16,309)	(70,141)
Purchase of additional/remaining interest, net of cash acquired	(223,564)
Other Joint Ventures [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Investment in joint venture	(2,199)	(9,313)	(2,500)
Opry City Stage [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchase of additional/remaining interest, net of cash acquired	(3,963)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	176,611	165,461	171,231
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchases of property and equipment			(507)
Proceeds from sale of Peterson LOI			6,785
Net cash used in investing activities			6,278
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Repurchase of Company stock for retirement			(24,811)
Payment of dividends	(172,415)	(161,706)	(151,160)
Payment of tax withholdings for share-based compensation	(4,164)	(3,810)	(3,235)
Other financing activities	11	65	1,702
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(176,568)	(165,451)	(177,504)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	43	10	5
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period	38	28	23
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period	81	38	28
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(348,460)	(83,057)	(66,344)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Net borrowings (repayments) under revolving credit facility	354,000	(211,400)	76,000
Repayments under term loan B	(5,000)	(393,750)	(4,000)
Repayment of note payable related to purchase of AC Hotel			(6,000)
Deferred financing costs paid	(642)	(12,268)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	348,358	82,582	66,000
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(102)	(475)	(344)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period	759	1,234	1,578
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period	657	759	1,234
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | $200 Million Term Loan A [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Borrowings under term loan		200,000
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | $500 Million Term Loan B [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Borrowings under term loan		500,000
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	74,430	96,529	31,365
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchases of property and equipment	(74,412)	(96,516)	(36,122)
Other investing activities			4,622
Net cash used in investing activities	(74,412)	(96,516)	(31,500)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	18	13	(135)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period	36	23	158
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period	54	36	23
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	419,338	116,897	157,349
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchases of property and equipment	(113,805)	(86,049)	(81,348)
Other investing activities	(5,367)	(7,234)	(323)
Net cash used in investing activities	(348,898)	(118,905)	(154,312)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Other financing activities	(20)	(20)	(19)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(20)	(20)	(19)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	70,420	(2,028)	3,018
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period	77,877	79,905	76,887
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period	148,297	77,877	79,905
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Gaylord Rockies [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Investment in joint venture		(16,309)	(70,141)
Purchase of additional/remaining interest, net of cash acquired	(223,564)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Other Joint Ventures [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Investment in joint venture	(2,199)	$ (9,313)	$ (2,500)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Opry City Stage [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchase of additional/remaining interest, net of cash acquired	$ (3,963)