Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011 years	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2009	Oct. 25, 2010 BCRP Inc [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Booth Creek Resort Properties LLC [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Northstar-At-Tahoe [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Mountain News Corporation [Member] years	Jul. 31, 2011 Colorado Mountain Express [Member] years	Jul. 31, 2010 Parent Company [Member]
Effective date of business acquisition						October 25, 2010	May 28, 2010	November 1, 2008
Ownership interest				100.00%
Total consideration	$ 62,344,000	$ 15,870,000	$ 38,170,000		$ 60,500,000				$ (2,193,000)
Weighted-average amortization period (in years)	4.6						6.4	8.3
Net operating revenue from Acquiree						67,900,000
Acquisition related cost	4,100,000
Acquisition of business	62,344,000	15,870,000	38,170,000		60,500,000				(2,193,000)
Total consideration paid for the acquisition	60,528,000						16,500,000	38,200,000
Business acquisition reimbursement by seller amount								900,000
Purchase price allocation to goodwill	85,446,000						12,900,000	25,700,000
Purchase price allocation to indefinite-lived intangible assets							1,200,000	4,300,000
Purchase price allocation to fixed assets							2,600,000	6,100,000
Purchase price allocation to amortizable intangible assets							1,700,000	3,200,000
Purchase price allocation to liabilities assumed	$ 58,244,000						$ 900,000