Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 29, 2013	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	May 29, 2013 Canyons [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 Canyons [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Canyons [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 Canyons [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 Canyons Obligation [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Canyons Obligation [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Canyons Obligation [Member]
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments		$ 32,900,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Revenue			498,477,000		1,059,125,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Assets, Accounts Receivable	2,187,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Assets, Other Current Assets	1,698,000
Effective date of business acquisition							May 29, 2013
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill	106,414,000
Purchase price allocation to fixed assets	5,475,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Total Liabilities Assumed	344,028,000
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired				0	19,958,000
Long-term Debt		800,102,000	489,758,000	800,102,000	489,758,000	796,922,000					310,472,000	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 the consumer price index ("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									50 years
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual								33,100,000		60,900,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Property, Plant and Equipment Gross (under Capital Lease)	127,885,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Deferred Taxes Asset (Liab), Net, Noncurrent	11,869,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Intangible Assets besides Goodwill	30,700,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, PCMR Deposit	57,800,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Total Assets Acquired	344,028,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Liabilities, Trade Payables	6,699,000
Business Acquisitions, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Liabilities, Deferred Revenue	1,134,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Other Noncurrent Liabilities Acquired	21,766,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Canyons Obligation	305,329,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Contingent Consideration	9,100,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)			$ 96,499,000		$ 80,107,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Basic			$ 2.69		$ 2.24
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Diluted			$ 2.62		$ 2.18