Investment in Mortgage Notes (Details) (USD $)			12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Ski Resorts [Member] Y	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage note and related accrued interest receivable, 9.00%, paid in full on May 31, 2013 Public Charter School Property [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage note and related accrued interest receivable, 9.00%, paid in full on May 31, 2013 Public Charter School Property [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage note, 9.50%, paid in full on October 8, 2013 Entertainment Retail Center Properties [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage note, 9.50%, paid in full on October 8, 2013 Entertainment Retail Center Properties [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due November 1, 2016 [Member] Vineyard And Winery Facility [Member] acres		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due November 1, 2016 [Member] Vineyard And Winery Facility [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due November 1, 2017 [Member] Vineyard And Winery Facility [Member] acres		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due November 1, 2017 [Member] Vineyard And Winery Facility [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due November 1, 2017 [Member] Ski Resorts [Member] acres		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due November 1, 2017 [Member] Ski Resorts [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Notes, 7.00% and 10.00%, Due May 1, 2019 [Member] Water Parks [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Notes, 7.00% and 10.00%, Due May 1, 2019 [Member] Water Parks [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Notes, 7.00% and 10.00%, Due May 1, 2019 [Member] Water Parks [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Notes, 7.00% and 10.00%, Due May 1, 2019 [Member] Water Parks [Member] KANSAS properties	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Notes, 7.00% and 10.00%, Due May 1, 2019 [Member] Water Parks [Member] TEXAS properties	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due August 29, 2020 [Member] Ski Resorts [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due August 29, 2020 [Member] Ski Resorts [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due October 30, 2027 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due October 30, 2027 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due October 30, 2027 [Member] Ski Resorts [Member] NEW HAMPSHIRE acres	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due June 28, 2032 [Member] [Member] Ski Resorts [Member] properties		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due June 28, 2032 [Member] [Member] Ski Resorts [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due June 28, 2032 [Member] [Member] Ski Resorts [Member] VERMONT acres	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due June 28, 2032 [Member] [Member] Ski Resorts [Member] NEW HAMPSHIRE acres	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due September 1, 2032 [Member] Ski Resorts [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due September 1, 2032 [Member] Ski Resorts [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due September 1, 2032 [Member] Ski Resorts [Member] Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania [Member] properties acres	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due October 31, 2032 [Member] NC Music Factory [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due October 31, 2032 [Member] NC Music Factory [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due December 1, 2032 [Member] Basis School, Inc. [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due December 1, 2032 [Member] Basis School, Inc. [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due December 31, 2032 [Member] NC Music Factory [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due December 31, 2032 [Member] NC Music Factory [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due April 30, 2033 [Member] Public Charter School Property [Member] properties		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due April 30, 2033 [Member] Public Charter School Property [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due May 31, 2033 [Member] TopGolf [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due May 31, 2033 [Member] TopGolf [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due June 30, 2033 [Member] Ski Resorts [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due June 30, 2033 [Member] Ski Resorts [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due June 30, 2033 [Member] Ski Resorts [Member] OHIO acre	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due December 31, 2032 [Member] Public Charter School Property [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due December 31, 2032 [Member] Public Charter School Property [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due June 30, 2033 [Member] Public Charter School Property [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due June 30, 2033 [Member] Public Charter School Property [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due June 30, 2033 [Member] Public Charter School Property [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due June 30, 2033 [Member] UMEPrep [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Note, Due June 30, 2033 [Member] UMEPrep [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 First Mortgage [Member] Ski Resorts [Member] sqft	Dec. 31, 2013 First Mortgage [Member] Basis School, Inc. [Member] sqft	Sep. 30, 2012 First Mortgage [Member] UMEPrep [Member] acre	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum [Member] years	Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum [Member] Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Notes, 7.00% and 10.00%, Due May 1, 2019 [Member] Water Parks [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] years	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] Mortgage Receivable [Member] Corporation [Member] Mortgage Notes, 7.00% and 10.00%, Due May 1, 2019 [Member] Water Parks [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Mortgage notes and related accrued interest receivable, net	$ 486,337,000	$ 455,752,000		$ 486,337,000	$ 486,337,000	$ 455,752,000	$ 0	[1]	$ 1,710,000	[1]	$ 0	[2]	$ 17,979,000	[2]	$ 2,511,000	[3]	$ 0	[3]	$ 2,521,000	[4]	$ 2,517,000	[4]	$ 42,907,000	[5]	$ 42,907,000	[5]	$ 183,465,000	[6]	$ 178,545,000	[6]				$ 1,112,000	[7]	$ 0	[7]	$ 10,972,000	$ 10,945,000		$ 63,500,000	[8]	$ 62,500,000	[8]			$ 47,029,000	[9]	$ 45,714,000	[9]		$ 36,032,000	[10]	$ 36,032,000	[10]	$ 19,659,000	[11]	$ 19,471,000	[11]	$ 22,188,000	[12]	$ 22,188,000	[12]	$ 20,802,000	[13]	$ 0	[13]	$ 13,086,000	[14]	$ 4,930,000	[14]	$ 4,509,000	[15]	$ 2,550,000	[15]		$ 5,717,000	[16]	$ 5,787,000	[16]		$ 6,872,000	[17]	$ 0	[17]	$ 3,455,000	[18]	$ 1,977,000	[18]
Number of acres securing mortgage															159				20				696																	308					2,378	1,250					1,431																									125
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Periodic Payment Terms, Level Payments																																																																				141									52
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Collections of Principal																			750,000
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Periodic Payment Terms, Balloon Payment Amount																			1,000,000
number of acres																																																																																												28
Square Footage of Real Estate Property																																																																																										125,000	40,000
Receivable interest rate							9.00%				9.50%				5.50%				10.00%				10.00%											10.00%				10.11%			10.77%						9.98%					10.65%				9.50%				10.25%				9.50%				1131.00%				10.20%					9.00%				9.50%	950.00%				1025.00%				10.00%	9.00%	10.25%		7.00%		10.00%
Length of lease (in years)			20																																																																																										18		21
Number of properties securing debt																																1	2								2										7													3
Seasonal line of credit with higher collateral position, maximum																			10,000,000								7,000,000
Participating interest income																											923,000		862,000		451,000
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	453
Notes Receivable, Future Payment Receivables [Abstract]
2014				751,000
2015				878,000
2016				46,297,000
2017				1,154,000
2018				168,000
Thereafter				$ 437,089,000
mortgage loan on real estate, interest rate, increase																																																												1.00%				0.50%																	0.50%										0.50%	0.50%
Frequency of Interest Rate Increases																																																												5 years				5 years																	5 years										4 years	5 years
mortgage loans on real estate, effective interest rate																																																																																											9.30%	9.90%
mortgage loans on real estate, servicer fee																																																																																											2.00%	2.00%

[1] The Company's first mortgage loan agreement with Starshine Charter Holdings, LLC was paid in full on May 31, 2013.

[2] The Company's first mortgage loan agreement with Cantera 30, L.P., was paid in full on October 8, 2013 with the Company's acquisition of its partner's interest in the Atlantic-EPR I joint venture. See Note 8 for further details.

[3] The Company's mortgage loan agreement with Alko Ranch, LLC is secured by approximately 159 acres of land and a winery facility. The note requires monthly interest payments.

[4] The Company's mortgage loan agreement with Carneros Vintners, Inc. is secured by approximately 20 acres of land and a custom crush facility. The note requires monthly interest payments and two principal payments of $750 thousand each during the note term with a final principal payment of $1.0 million due at maturity. Pursuant to the mortgage note, a $10.0 million first mortgage ranks superior to the Company's collateral position.

[5] The Company's first mortgage loan agreement with Peak Resorts, Inc. (Peak) is secured by approximately 696 acres of development land. The note requires monthly interest payments and Peak is required to fund a debt service reserve for off-season interest payments (those due from April to December). The reserve is to be funded by equal monthly installments during the months of January, February and March. Monthly interest payments are transferred to the Company from this debt service reserve.

[6] The Company’s mortgage loan agreements with SVVI, LLC (SVVI) are secured by one water-park and adjacent land in Kansas City, Kansas as well as two other water-parks located in New Braunfels and South Padre Island, Texas. The mortgage notes have cross-default and cross-collateral provisions. Pursuant to the mortgage on the Texas properties, only a seasonal line of credit secured by the Texas parks totaling not more than $7.0 million at any time ranks superior to the Company’s collateral position. The note requires monthly interest payments and SVVI is required to fund a debt service reserve for off-season interest payments (those due from September to May). The reserve is to be funded by equal monthly installments during the months of June, July and August. Monthly interest payments are transferred to the Company from this debt service reserve. The mortgage loan agreements also contain certain participating interest and note pay-down provisions. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company recognized $923 thousand, $862 thousand and $451 thousand of participating interest income, respectively. SVV I, LLC is a VIE, but it was determined that the Company was not the primary beneficiary of this VIE. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss associated with SVVI, LLC is limited to the Company’s outstanding mortgage note and related accrued interest receivable.

[7] The Company's first mortgage loan agreement with CBK Lodge, LP and CBH20, LP is secured by development land adjacent to the Company's Camelback Mountain Resort that is expected to be developed into a 453 room Wilderness Lodge hotel, with an attached 125,000 square foot indoor waterpark, to be located at the base of the mountain. Interest accrues at a rate of 10.00% while the property is under construction. Upon completion of the indoor waterpark hotel, it is expected that this investment will be incorporated into the triple net lease of the Camelback Mountain Resort, with an initial term of 20 years from the completion date.

[8] The Company's first mortgage loan agreements with Peak are secured by two ski resorts located in Vermont and New Hampshire. Mount Snow is approximately 2,378 acres and is located in both West Dover and Wilmington, Vermont. Mount Attitash is approximately 1,250 acres and is located in Bartlett, New Hampshire. The note requires monthly interest payments and Peak is required to fund a debt service reserve for off-season interest payments (those due from April to December). The reserve is to be funded by equal monthly installments during the months of January, February and March. Monthly interest payments are transferred to the Company from this debt service reserve. Annually, this interest rate increases based on a formula dependent in part on increases in the CPI.

[9] The Company's first mortgage loan agreement with Peak is secured by seven ski resorts located in Missouri, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania with a total of approximately 1,431 acres. The note requires monthly interest payments and Peak is required to fund a debt service reserve for off-season interest payments (those due from April to December). The reserve is to be funded by equal monthly installments during the months of January, February and March. Monthly interest payments are transferred to the Company from this debt service reserve. Annually, this interest rate increases based on a formula dependent in part on increases in the CPI.

[10] The Company's first mortgage loan agreement with Montparnasse 56 USA is secured by the observation deck of the John Hancock building in Chicago, Illinois. This note requires monthly interest payments.

[11] The Company's first mortgage loan agreement with Basis Schools, Inc. is secured by a six story public charter school and the underlying land with approximately 40,000 square feet located in Washington D.C. The note bears interest beginning at 9.0% with increases of 0.5% every four years and requires monthly interest payments. The note has an effective interest rate of approximately 9.3%, which is net of a 2% servicer fee to HighMark School Development (HighMark).

[12] The Company's first mortgage loan agreement with Fiber Mills, LLC and Music Factory Condominiums, LLC is secured by the North Carolina Music Factory located in Charlotte, North Carolina which is an existing entertainment retail center that includes live performance and other dining and entertainment tenants. The note bears interest beginning at 10.25% with increases of 1.0% every five years and requires monthly interest payments. The note contains an option to purchase the property for a period of time during 2015 at a price based on a multiple of the property's adjusted net operating income as defined in the agreement.

[13] The Company's first mortgage loan agreements with LBE Investments, Ltd. are secured by three charter school properties under development located in Gilbert and Queen Creek, Arizona. The notes bear interest beginning at 9.50% with increases of 0.5% every five years. Upon completion of construction, the notes require monthly payments of principal and interest based on a 25 year amortization schedule.

[14] The Company's first mortgage loan agreement with TopGolf USA Austin is secured by a recreation facility located in Austin, Texas. The note is fully amortizing and requires monthly principal and interest payments of $141 thousand.

[15] The Company's first mortgage loan agreement with Peak is secured by a ski resort located in Chesterland, Ohio with approximately 125 acres. The note requires monthly interest payments and Peak is required to fund a debt service reserve for off-season interest payments (those due from April to December). The reserve is to be funded by equal monthly installments during the months of January, February and March. Monthly interest payments are transferred to the Company from this debt service reserve. Annually, this interest rate increases based on a formula dependent in part on increases in the CPI.

[16] The Company's first mortgage loan agreement with LBE Investments, Ltd. is secured by a charter school property located in Queen Creek, Arizona. The note is fully amortizing and requires monthly principal and interest payments of $52 thousand.

[17] The Company's first mortgage loan agreement with Beloved Community Charter School, Inc. is secured by a charter school property located in Jersey City, New Jersey. The note bears interest beginning at 9.50% with increases of 0.5% every five years and requires monthly interest payments.

[18] The Company's first mortgage loan agreement with UME Preparatory Academy is secured by approximately 28 acres of land and a public charter school property located in Dallas, Texas. The note bears interest beginning at 10.25% with increases of 0.5% every five years and requires monthly interest payments. The note has an effective interest rate of approximately 9.9%, which is net of a 2% servicer fee to HighMark.