Business Segments - Information by Geographic Region (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) item	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Business segment information by geographical areas
Number of parks owned or operated | item	26								26
Long-lived assets	$ 2,451,814				$ 2,489,954				$ 2,451,814	$ 2,489,954	$ 2,262,329
Revenues	108,602	$ 126,327	$ 19,143	$ 102,503	261,000	$ 621,180	$ 477,210	$ 128,193	356,575	1,487,583	1,463,707
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ (112,782)	$ (131,771)	$ (171,911)	$ (106,595)	10,143	$ 261,835	$ 133,571	$ (93,789)	$ (523,059)	311,760	411,858
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	$ 2,317,009				2,347,578				$ 2,317,009	2,347,578	2,160,970
Revenues									334,713	1,370,367	1,335,787
Income (loss) before income taxes									(487,594)	297,752	383,875
Foreign
Business segment information by geographical areas
Long-lived assets	$ 134,805				$ 142,376				134,805	142,376	101,359
Revenues									21,862	117,216	127,920
Income (loss) before income taxes									$ (35,464)	$ 14,008	$ 27,983