Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of revenue recognized for the period from operating leases, including minimum lease revenue, contingent revenue, percentage revenue and sublease revenue.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 25
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77902458&loc=d3e39896-112707

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesIncomeStatementLeaseRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, excluding tax collected from customer, of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised good or service to customer. Tax collected from customer is tax assessed by governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transaction, including, but not limited to, sales, use, value added and excise.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130543-203045

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130539-203045

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130545-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8933-108599

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8736-108599

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Revenues
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimingOfTransferOfGoodOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_TransferredAtPointInTimeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimingOfTransferOfGoodOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_TransferredOverTimeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_RealEstateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=joe_HospitalityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_TimberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=joe_ResidentialRealEstateSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=joe_HospitalitySegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=joe_CommercialLeasingAndSalesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=joe_ForestryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Significant Accounting Policies - Disaggregation of revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Disaggregation of revenue
Leasing revenue									$ 13,727	$ 12,940	$ 12,230
Total revenue	$ 16,301	$ 23,676	$ 50,434	$ 19,865	$ 21,891	$ 33,988	$ 30,647	$ 13,512	110,276	100,038	96,862
Recognized at a point in time
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									94,513
Recognized over time
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									2,036
Real estate
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									52,183	27,717	23,397
Hospitality
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									38,736	53,217	55,644
Timber
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									5,630	6,164	5,591
Operating Segments \| Residential real estate
Disaggregation of revenue
Total revenue									42,869	21,747	19,483
Operating Segments \| Residential real estate \| Recognized at a point in time
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									42,869
Operating Segments \| Residential real estate \| Real estate
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									42,761
Operating Segments \| Residential real estate \| Timber
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									108
Operating Segments \| Hospitality
Disaggregation of revenue
Leasing revenue									1,237
Total revenue									39,973	54,820	57,284
Operating Segments \| Hospitality \| Recognized at a point in time
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									36,700
Operating Segments \| Hospitality \| Recognized over time
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									2,036
Operating Segments \| Hospitality \| Hospitality
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									38,736
Operating Segments \| Commercial leasing and sales
Disaggregation of revenue
Leasing revenue									11,684
Total revenue									16,485	14,510	11,929
Operating Segments \| Commercial leasing and sales \| Recognized at a point in time
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									4,801
Operating Segments \| Commercial leasing and sales \| Real estate
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									4,801
Operating Segments \| Forestry
Disaggregation of revenue
Leasing revenue									806
Total revenue									8,135	8,443	7,791
Operating Segments \| Forestry \| Recognized at a point in time
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									7,329
Operating Segments \| Forestry \| Real estate
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									1,807
Operating Segments \| Forestry \| Timber
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									5,522
Other
Disaggregation of revenue
Total revenue									2,814	$ 518	$ 375
Other \| Recognized at a point in time
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									2,814
Other \| Real estate
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue									$ 2,814