Debt, Net - Schedule of Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt instruments
Outstanding debt	$ 145,759	$ 94,507
Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs	2,384	1,978
Debt, Net	143,375	92,529
PPN JV Loan, due November 2025, bearing interest at 4.1%
Debt instruments
Outstanding debt	44,808	45,514
Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs	330	380
Debt, Net	$ 44,478	$ 45,134
Debt interest rate (as a percent)	4.10%	4.10%
PPC JV Loan, due June 2060, bearing interest at 4.0%
Debt instruments
Outstanding debt	$ 35,597	$ 34,610
Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs	1,067	1,087
Debt, Net	$ 34,530	$ 33,523
Debt interest rate (as a percent)	4.00%	4.00%
Watersound Origins Crossings JV Loan, due May 2024, bearing interest at 5.0%
Debt instruments
Outstanding debt	$ 21,423	$ 2,868
Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs	377	454
Debt, Net	$ 21,046	$ 2,414
Debt interest rate (as a percent)	5.00%	5.00%
PPC II JV Loan, due October 2024, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.3%
Debt instruments
Outstanding debt	$ 14,229
Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs	211
Debt, Net	$ 14,018
Effective interest rate (as a percent)	2.40%
PPC II JV Loan, due October 2024, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.3% \| LIBOR
Debt instruments
Basis spread on variable rate	2.30%
Watercrest JV Loan, due June 2047, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.2%
Debt instruments
Outstanding debt	$ 13,741
Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs	287
Debt, Net	$ 13,454
Effective interest rate (as a percent)	2.30%
Watercrest JV Loan, due June 2047, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.2% \| LIBOR
Debt instruments
Basis spread on variable rate	2.20%
Community Development District debt, secured by certain real estate or other collateral, due May 2023 through May 2039, bearing interest at 3.6% to 6.0%
Debt instruments
Outstanding debt	$ 6,088	$ 6,977
Debt, Net	$ 6,088	$ 6,977
Community Development District debt, secured by certain real estate or other collateral, due May 2023 through May 2039, bearing interest at 3.6% to 6.0% \| Minimum
Debt instruments
Debt interest rate (as a percent)	3.60%	3.60%
Community Development District debt, secured by certain real estate or other collateral, due May 2023 through May 2039, bearing interest at 3.6% to 6.0% \| Maximum
Debt instruments
Debt interest rate (as a percent)	6.00%	6.00%
Beckrich Building III Loan, due August 2029, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.7%
Debt instruments
Outstanding debt	$ 5,478
Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs	60
Debt, Net	$ 5,418
Effective interest rate (as a percent)	1.80%
Beckrich Building III Loan, due August 2029, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.7% \| LIBOR
Debt instruments
Basis spread on variable rate	1.70%
Beach Homes Loan, due May 2029, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.7%.
Debt instruments
Outstanding debt	$ 1,558	$ 1,594
Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs	18	20
Debt, Net	$ 1,540	$ 1,574
Effective interest rate (as a percent)	1.80%
Beach Homes Loan, due May 2029, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.7%. \| LIBOR
Debt instruments
Basis spread on variable rate	1.70%	1.70%
Pier Park Outparcel Construction Loan, due March 2027, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.7%
Debt instruments
Outstanding debt	$ 1,479	$ 1,535
Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs	13	14
Debt, Net	$ 1,466	$ 1,521
Effective interest rate (as a percent)	1.80%
Pier Park Outparcel Construction Loan, due March 2027, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.7% \| LIBOR
Debt instruments
Basis spread on variable rate	1.70%	1.70%
WaterColor Crossings Construction Loan, due February 2029, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.7%
Debt instruments
Outstanding debt	$ 1,358	$ 1,409
Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs	21	23
Debt, Net	$ 1,337	$ 1,386
Effective interest rate (as a percent)	1.80%
WaterColor Crossings Construction Loan, due February 2029, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.7% \| LIBOR
Debt instruments
Basis spread on variable rate	1.70%	1.70%

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120520924&loc=SL6031897-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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

- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120520924&loc=SL6036836-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119993939&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of unamortized debt discount (premium) and debt issuance costs.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120520924&loc=SL6031897-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=joe_PierParkNorthJointVentureLoanDueNovember2025Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=joe_LoanInPierParkCrossingsJvDueJune2060Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=joe_OriginsCrossingsJvLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=joe_PpcIiJvLoanDueOctober2024Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=joe_WatercrestJvLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=joe_CommunityDevelopmentDistrictDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=joe_BeckrichBuildingIiiLoanDueAugust2029Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=joe_BeachHomesLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=joe_ConstructionLoanDueMarch2027Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=joe_ConstructionLoanDueFebruary2029Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: