Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	May 29, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012 Urban Ski Areas [Member]	Dec. 17, 2012 Urban Ski Areas [Member]	May 29, 2013 Canyons [Member]	Jan. 31, 2014 Canyons [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Canyons [Member]	Jan. 31, 2014 Canyons [Member]	Jan. 31, 2014 Canyons Obligation [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Canyons Obligation [Member]	Jan. 31, 2013 Canyons Obligation [Member]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Revenue		$ 440,024,000		$ 560,648,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Assets, Receivables	1,774,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Assets, Prepaid Expense and Other Assets	1,766,000
Effective date of business acquisition						Dec. 17, 2012		May 29, 2013
Purchase price allocation to goodwill	74,539,000						2,000,000
Purchase price allocation to fixed assets	5,475,000						17,800,000
Purchase price allocation to other assets							1,000,000
Purchase price allocation to amortizable intangible assets							1,000,000
Purchase price allocation to liabilities assumed	344,683,000						1,800,000
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired			0	19,958,000		20,000,000
Long-term Debt		490,303,000	799,284,000	490,303,000	796,922,000							309,093,000	306,320,000	0
Initial Capital Lease Term								P50Y
Optional Lease Renewal Term								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
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")
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life						10 years				50 years
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual									22,700,000		27,800,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Property, Plant and Equipment Gross (under Capital Lease)	127,885,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Deferred Taxes Asset (Liability), Net, Noncurrent	44,744,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Intangible Assets Other than Goodwill	30,700,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, PCMR Deposit	57,800,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Assets Acquired	344,683,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Liabilities, Accounts Payable	7,348,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Liabilities, Deferred Revenue	1,134,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Other Noncurrent Liabilities	21,766,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Canyons Obligation	305,335,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Contingent Consideration	9,100,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)		$ 54,419,000		$ (16,393,000)
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Basic		$ 1.52		$ (0.46)
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Diluted		$ 1.48		$ (0.46)