Significant Accounting Policies - Restricted Investments and Timber Inventory (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Significant Accounting Policies
401(k) Plan distribution period (in years)	3 years
Timber holdings valuation sample (as a percent)	20

Period for allocation of restricted assets to defined contribution participants, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

Name:	joe_DefinedContributionPlanDistributionPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	joe_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration