Business Segments - Reconciliation of Revenues, Segment Profits (Losses) and Net Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues
Segment revenues									$ 45,577,000	$ 51,147,000	$ 51,069,000
Equity in earnings (losses)									7,098,000	6,324,000	5,294,000
Gain on sale of real estate									1,044,000	0	0
Investment income									457,000	528,000	696,000
Other income									158,000	381,000	526,000
Total revenues and other income	$ 12,841,000	$ 13,223,000	$ 7,006,000	$ 13,122,000	$ 15,884,000	$ 12,187,000	$ 7,159,000	$ 16,826,000	46,192,000	52,056,000
Segment profits (losses) and net income (loss)
Segment profits									(7,906,000)	(3,196,000)	1,943,000
Costs and expenses									(53,483,000)	(54,343,000)	(49,126,000)
Income before income tax expense									851,000	4,037,000	8,459,000
Ranch operations
Revenues
Segment revenues										3,923,000	3,534,000
Segment profits (losses) and net income (loss)
Costs and expenses									(5,734,000)	(6,112,000)	(5,998,000)
Operating Segments | Reportable Segment
Revenues
Segment revenues									45,577,000	51,147,000	51,069,000
Total revenues and other income									54,334,000	58,380,000	57,585,000
Segment profits (losses) and net income (loss)
Segment profits									4,644,000	9,612,000	12,589,000
Operating Segments | Real estate - commercial/industrial
Revenues
Segment revenues									9,438,000	8,272,000	7,845,000
Equity in earnings (losses)									7,098,000	6,324,000	5,294,000
Segment profits (losses) and net income (loss)
Segment profits									2,338,000	1,578,000	639,000
Costs and expenses									(7,100,000)	(6,694,000)	(7,206,000)
Operating Segments | Real estate - resort/residential
Segment profits (losses) and net income (loss)
Segment profits									(1,630,000)	(2,349,000)	(2,608,000)
Costs and expenses									(1,630,000)	(2,349,000)	(2,608,000)
Operating Segments | Mineral resources
Revenues
Segment revenues									14,153,000	15,116,000	16,255,000
Segment profits (losses) and net income (loss)
Segment profits									6,357,000	7,720,000	9,837,000
Costs and expenses									(7,796,000)	(7,396,000)	(6,418,000)
Operating Segments | Farming
Revenues
Segment revenues									18,648,000	23,836,000	23,435,000
Segment profits (losses) and net income (loss)
Segment profits									(25,000)	4,852,000	7,185,000
Costs and expenses									(18,673,000)	(18,984,000)	(16,250,000)
Operating Segments | Ranch operations
Revenues
Segment revenues									3,338,000	3,923,000	3,534,000
Segment profits (losses) and net income (loss)
Segment profits									(2,396,000)	(2,189,000)	(2,464,000)
Corporate
Segment profits (losses) and net income (loss)
Costs and expenses									$ (12,550,000)	$ (12,808,000)	$ (10,646,000)