Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Oct. 25, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010 Mountain News Corporation [Member]	May 28, 2010 Mountain News Corporation [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Northstar-At-Tahoe [Member]	Oct. 25, 2010 BCRP Inc [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Booth Creek Resort Properties LLC [Member]	Feb. 29, 2012 Skiinfo [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Skiinfo [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 Kirkwood Mountain Resort [Member]	Apr. 11, 2012 Kirkwood Mountain Resort [Member]
Effective date of business acquisition					May 28, 2010		Oct. 25, 2010			Feb. 01, 2012		Apr. 12, 2012
Total consideration paid for the acquisition				$ 60,186,000		$ 16,500,000
Purchase price allocation to goodwill				85,446,000		12,900,000					1,800,000
Purchase price allocation to indefinite-lived intangible assets						1,200,000					700,000		900,000
Purchase price allocation to fixed assets						2,600,000					2,400,000		16,100,000
Purchase price allocation to other assets											2,700,000		3,000,000
Purchase price allocation to amortizable intangible assets						1,700,000					500,000		1,200,000
Weighted-average amortization period (in years)					6 years 4 months 24 days		4 years 7 months 12 days			6 years 8 months 12 days		21 years 4 months 24 days
Purchase price allocation to liabilities assumed				58,244,000		900,000					2,600,000		3,000,000
Ownership interest								100.00%
Total consideration	23,479,000	62,344,000	15,870,000						60,200,000	5,700,000		18,200,000
Net operation revenue from acquiree							67,900,000
Acquisition related costs							$ 4,100,000