Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Guarantee Obligations [Line Items]
Total rent expense	$ 0.1	$ 0.5
Aggregate environmental-related accruals	1.5		1.5
Maximum payment to the alliance agreement in the first year	14
Maximum payment to the alliance agreement in the second year	12
Threshold of ownership percentage in Company for private investigation of compliance	5.00%
Standby guarantee liability	0.8		0.8
Surety Bonds [Member]
Guarantee Obligations [Line Items]
Commitment obligations	14.7		15.7
Financial Standby Letters Of Credit [Member]
Guarantee Obligations [Line Items]
Commitment obligations	$ 0.8		$ 0.8

Maximum payment to the alliance agreement in the first year

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum payment to the alliance agreement in the second year

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	joe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Threshold Of Ownership Percentage In Company For Private Investigation Of Compliance

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	joe_ThresholdOfOwnershipPercentageInCompanyForPrivateInvestigationOfCompliance
Namespace Prefix:	joe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Recorded amount of the accrual for a material component of an environmental loss contingency.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.Y.Q2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6572457&loc=d3e149879-122751

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents the amount of contractual guarantees to which the Company is obligated as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 45

-Paragraph 3, 8, 15

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12201-110248

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Rental expense incurred for leased assets including furniture and equipment which has not been recognized in costs and expenses applicable to sales and revenues; for example, cost of goods sold or other operating costs and expenses.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration