Business Segments - Information by Geographic Region (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) item	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) item	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Business segment information by geographical areas
Number of parks owned or operated | item	26		26
Long-lived assets	$ 2,467,515	$ 2,489,954	$ 2,467,515	$ 2,489,954
Revenues	126,327	621,180	247,973	1,226,583
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ (131,771)	261,835	$ (410,277)	301,617
Mexico
Business segment information by geographical areas
Number of parks owned or operated | item	2		2
Canada
Business segment information by geographical areas
Number of parks owned or operated | item	1		1
Domestic
Business segment information by geographical areas
Long-lived assets	$ 2,341,345	2,347,577	$ 2,341,345	2,347,577
Revenues			231,254	1,138,640
Income (loss) before income taxes			(385,764)	284,868
Foreign
Business segment information by geographical areas
Long-lived assets	$ 126,170	$ 142,377	126,170	142,377
Revenues			16,719	87,943
Income (loss) before income taxes			$ (24,513)	$ 16,749