Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	May 29, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Oct. 25, 2010	May 29, 2013 Canyons [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Canyons [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Canyons [Member]	Dec. 17, 2012 Urban Ski Areas [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Northstar-At-Tahoe [Member]	Oct. 25, 2010 BCRP Inc [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Booth Creek Resort Properties LLC [Member]	Feb. 29, 2012 Skiinfo [Member]	Jan. 30, 2012 Skiinfo [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 Kirkwood Mountain Resort [Member]	Apr. 11, 2012 Kirkwood Mountain Resort [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Talisker Canyons Obligation [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Talisker Canyons Obligation [Member]
Contingent Consideration, Key Assumptions for Valuation	The Company estimated the likelihood and timing of achieving the relevant thresholds for the Contingent Consideration payments using discounted cash flow projection valuation models. The Company considered two probability weighed models to calculate projected EBITDA performance; (1) Canyons on a standalone basis, and (2) Canyons plus the inclusion of the ski terrain of Park City Mountain Resort in the Lease. The models considered the following factors: (i) an estimation of the long-term rate of EBITDA growth at 5.5% after the initial five years of operations; (ii) estimated annual capital expenditures between $10.0 million to $15.0 million in the initial five years of operations, subsequently growing at inflation of 2%; (iii) threshold amount increased by an inflation linked index of 2%; and (iv) a discount rate of 15%.
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration, at Fair Value						$ 9,100,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Talisker Canyons Obligation		796,922,000	490,765,000														306,320,000	0
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months		25,088,000
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition						May 29, 2013			Dec. 17, 2012	Oct. 25, 2010			Feb. 01, 2012		Apr. 12, 2012
Total consideration paid for the acquisition					60,186,000
Purchase price allocation to goodwill	77,001,000				85,446,000				2,000,000					1,800,000
Purchase price allocation to indefinite-lived intangible assets														700,000		800,000
Purchase price allocation to fixed assets	5,475,000								17,800,000					2,400,000		16,800,000
Purchase price allocation to other assets									1,000,000					2,700,000		2,500,000
Purchase price allocation to amortizable intangible assets									1,000,000					500,000		1,200,000
Purchase price allocation to liabilities assumed	344,741,000				58,244,000				1,800,000					2,600,000		3,100,000
Ownership interest											100.00%
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired		19,958,000	23,479,000	62,344,000					20,000,000			60,200,000	5,700,000		18,200,000
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life							50 years		10 years	4 years 7 months 12 days			6 years 8 months 12 days		21 years 6 months 16 days
Net operation revenue from acquiree								3,900,000		67,900,000
Acquisition related costs								4,400,000		4,100,000
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Two Years		25,589,000
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Three Years		26,101,000
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Four Years		26,623,000
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Five Years		27,156,000
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter		1,980,443,000
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due		2,111,000,000
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Interest Included in Payments		(1,804,680,000)
Initial Capital Lease Term						50 years
Optional Lease Renewal Term		P10Y				six 50-year renewal options
Minimum Capital Lease Payment, Annual						25,000,000
Adjustments to Capital Lease Annual Payments						inflation linked index of CPI less 1%, with a floor of 2% per annum
Talisker Canyons Obligation, Interest Rate		10.00%
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Description	42% of the amount by which EBITDA for the resort operations, as calculated under the Lease, exceeds approximately $35 million, with such threshold amount increased by an inflation linked index and a 10% adjustment for any capital improvements or investments made under the Lease by the Company (the "Contingent Consideration")					42% of the amount by which EBITDA for the resort operations, as calculated under the Lease, exceeds approximately $35 million
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration, Accounting Treatment						threshold amount increased by an inflation linked index and a 10% adjustment for any capital improvements or investments made under the Lease by the Company
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Commitment Liabilities						$ 20,300,000