Business Segments - Revenue Components of Real Estate Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	$ 13,852	$ 15,128	$ 36,708	$ 32,363
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures, net	1,707	1,241	3,293	2,920
Real estate - commercial/industrial
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	2,572	2,842	8,067	8,389
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures, net			3,328	2,972
Revenues and Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments			11,395	11,361
Real estate - commercial/industrial | Commercial leases
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			4,338	5,078
Real estate - commercial/industrial | Grazing leases
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			1,064	1,090
Real estate - commercial/industrial | All other land management ancillary services
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			2,665	2,221
Real estate - resort/residential
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			786	881
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures, net			(35)	(52)
Revenues and Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments			751	829
Real estate - resort/residential | Hay sales - Centennial operations
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			588	621
Real estate - resort/residential | Management fees
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			195	234
Real estate - resort/residential | Other
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			3	26
Mineral resources
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	2,393	2,424	14,801	8,055
Mineral resources | Oil and Gas
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			5,301	6,198
Mineral resources | Water Sales
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			7,703	0
Mineral resources | Rock Aggregate
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			885	639
Mineral resources | Cement
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			763	581
Mineral resources | Land Lease for Oil Exploration
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			149	637
Farming Segment
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			13,054	15,038
Farming Segment | Total crop proceeds
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			12,825	14,845
Farming Segment | Almonds
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			5,295	6,680
Farming Segment | Pistachios
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			6,237	7,002
Farming Segment | Wine Grapes
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			1,293	1,163
Farming Segment | Other Farming Revenues
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues			$ 229	$ 193