Tejon Ranch (TRC) 10-Q 11 May 15 2015 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	TEJON RANCH CO
Entity Central Index Key	96869
Trading Symbol	TRC
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-15
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		20,660,698

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Total revenues	$16,633	$14,535
Costs and Expenses:
Total expenses	15,513	13,526
Operating income	1,120	1,009
Other Income:
Investment income	155	198
Other income	38	27
Total other income	193	225
Income from operations before equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	1,313	1,234
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures, net	1,150	438
Income before income tax expense	2,463	1,672
Income tax expense	862	541
Net income	1,601	1,131
Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interest	-16	18
Net income attributable to common stockholders	1,617	1,113
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders, basic, in dollars per share	$0.08	$0.05
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders, diluted, in dollars per share	$0.08	$0.05
Real estate - commercial/industrial
Revenues:
Total revenues	3,362	2,942
Costs and Expenses:
Total expenses	3,202	3,311
Other Income:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures, net	1,150	459
Real estate - resort/residential
Revenues:
Total revenues	0	93
Costs and Expenses:
Total expenses	751	464
Mineral resources
Revenues:
Total revenues	10,200	9,654
Costs and Expenses:
Total expenses	5,694	4,801
Farming
Revenues:
Total revenues	3,071	1,846
Costs and Expenses:
Total expenses	2,343	1,864
Corporate expenses
Costs and Expenses:
Total expenses	$3,523	$3,086

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders
Net income	$1,601	$1,131
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Unrealized gains on available for sale securities	62	12
Benefit plan adjustments	0	-474
Benefit plan reclassification for losses included in net income	0	407
Unrealized interest rate swap losses	-1,395	0
Other comprehensive loss before taxes	-1,333	-55
Benefit for income taxes related to other comprehensive loss items	534	186
Other comprehensive (loss) income	-799	131
Comprehensive income	802	1,262
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests	-16	18
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$818	$1,244

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$1,672	$5,638
Marketable securities - available-for-sale	43,940	42,140
Accounts receivable	6,072	8,506
Inventories	6,331	4,098
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	6,728	4,456
Deferred tax assets	1,623	1,089
Total current assets	66,366	65,927
Real estate and improvements - held for lease, net	20,185	20,226
Real estate development (includes $77,790 at March 31, 2015 and $77,131 at December 31, 2014, attributable to Centennial Founders LLC, Note 14)	220,812	219,654
Property and equipment, net	43,453	43,094
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	32,666	32,604
Long-term water assets	44,751	45,349
Long-term deferred tax assets	3,487	3,487
Other assets	1,769	1,774
TOTAL ASSETS	433,489	432,115
Current Liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	5,127	3,347
Accrued liabilities and other	3,312	2,774
Income taxes payable	465	1,703
Deferred income	1,821	1,164
Revolving line of credit	3,660	6,850
Current maturities of long-term debt	247	244
Total current liabilities	14,632	16,082
Long-term debt, less current portion	74,153	74,215
Long-term deferred gains	3,904	3,683
Other liabilities	15,595	13,802
Total liabilities	108,284	107,782
Commitments and contingencies
Tejon Ranch Co. Stockholders’ Equity
Common stock, $.50 par value per share: Authorized shares - 30,000,000, Issued and outstanding shares - 20,653,575 at March 31, 2015 and 20,636,478 at December 31, 2014	10,327	10,318
Additional paid-in capital	212,824	212,763
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-7,698	-6,899
Retained earnings	70,056	68,439
Total Tejon Ranch Co. Stockholders’ Equity	285,509	284,621
Non-controlling interest	39,696	39,712
Total equity	325,205	324,333
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$433,489	$432,115

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Common stock, par value per share	$0.50	$0.50
Common stock, authorized shares	30,000,000	30,000,000
Common stock, issued shares	20,653,575	20,636,478
Common stock, outstanding shares	20,653,575	20,636,478
Real estate developments	$220,812	$219,654
Centennial Founders, LLC
Real estate developments	$77,790	$77,131

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Operating Activities
Net income	$1,601	$1,131
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,098	1,146
Amortization of premium/discount of marketable securities	160	202
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	-1,150	-438
Non-cash retirement plan expense	-166	630
Deferred income taxes	0	3
Stock compensation expense	953	618
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables, inventories and other assets, net	-1,883	2,278
Current liabilities	1,131	-787
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,744	4,783
Investing Activities
Maturities and sales of marketable securities	5,590	4,705
Funds invested in marketable securities	-7,487	-2,379
Property and equipment expenditures	-6,117	-5,419
Reimbursement proceeds from Communities Facilities District	4,971
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	0	-6,425
Distribution of equity from unconsolidated joint ventures	1,100	0
Other	0	453
Net cash used in investing activities	-1,943	-9,065
Financing Activities
Borrowings of short-term debt	4,110	4,500
Repayments of short-term debt	-7,300	-4,500
Repayments of long-term debt	-62	-58
Taxes on vested stock grants	-515	-515
Net cash used in financing activities	-3,767	-573
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	-3,966	-4,855
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	5,638	9,031
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,672	4,176
Supplemental cash flow information
Accrued capital expenditures included in current liabilities	2,135	2,076
Taxes paid	$2,100	$0

Consolidated_Statements_of_Equ

Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $)	Total	Total Tejon Ranch Co.'s Stockholders Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Noncontrolling Interest
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Beginning Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2013	$320,187	$280,582	$10,282	$210,848	($3,333)	$62,785	$39,605
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			20,563,023
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	5,762	5,655				5,655	107
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income	-3,555	-3,555			-3,555
Restricted stock issuance (in shares)			94,014
Restricted stock issuance	0	0	47	-47
Stock compensation	2,564	2,564		2,564
Shares withheld for taxes and tax benefit of vested shares (in shares)			-20,559
Shares withheld for taxes and tax benefit of vested shares	-625	-625	-11	-603	-11
Warrants exercised				1		-1
Ending Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2014	324,333	284,621	10,318	212,763	-6,899	68,439	39,712
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014			20,636,478
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	1,601	1,617				1,617	-16
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income	-799	-799			-799
Restricted stock issuance (in shares)			39,010
Restricted stock issuance	0	0	20	-20
Stock compensation	989	989		989
Shares withheld for taxes and tax benefit of vested shares (in shares)			-21,913
Shares withheld for taxes and tax benefit of vested shares	-515	-515	-11	-504
Modified share-based awards	-404	-404		-404
Ending Balance, value at Mar. 31, 2015	$325,205	$285,509	$10,327	$212,824	($7,698)	$70,056	$39,696
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2015			20,653,575

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	BASIS OF PRESENTATION
	The summarized information of Tejon Ranch Co. and its subsidiaries, (the Company, Tejon, we, us and our), furnished pursuant to the instructions to Part I of Form 10-Q is unaudited and reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of the Company’s management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim period. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. We have evaluated subsequent events through the date of issuance of our consolidated financial statements.
	The periods ending March 31, 2015 and 2014 include the consolidation of Centennial Founders, LLC’s statement of operations within the resort /residential real estate development segment and statements of cash flows. The Company’s March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 balance sheets and statements of changes in equity and noncontrolling interests are presented on a consolidated basis including the consolidation of Centennial Founders, LLC.
	The Company has identified four reportable segments: commercial/industrial real estate development; resort/residential real estate development; mineral resources; and farming. Information for the Company’s reported segments is presented in its consolidated statements of operations. The Company’s reporting segments follow the same accounting policies used for the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Management evaluates a segment’s performance based upon a number of factors including pretax results.
	The results of the period reported herein are not indicative of the results to be expected for the full year due to the seasonal nature of the Company’s agricultural activities and timing of real estate sales and leasing activities. Historically, the Company’s largest percentages of farming revenues are recognized during the third and fourth quarters of the fiscal year.
	Reclassifications
	Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on results of operations, and are as follows:
	Mineral Resources
	In 2014, the Company expanded its water operations to not only manage water infrastructure and water assets but to also sell water on an annual basis to third parties as we did during the first quarters of 2015 and 2014. We determined during the third quarter of 2014 that water assets activity fit most appropriately with our other resource assets and will now be included in the mineral resources segment. As a result of this, the Company has reclassified prior year amortization associated with the purchase of water contracts from corporate expenses into mineral resources expenses on the consolidated statements of operations to conform to the current year presentation. The amortization amount reclassified for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $338,000. The Company has also reclassified, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, water sales of $7,390,000 into mineral resources revenues and mineral resources expenses of $4,388,000 related to cost of water sales on the unaudited consolidated statements of operations from other income.
	Farming
	During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company determined hay crop sales previously recorded in the resort/residential revenues segment related to farming activities within Centennial, fit most appropriately with our farming revenues segment. As a result, the Company has reclassified prior period hay crop sales and related cost of sales into the farming revenue and farming expenses, respectively, on the unaudited consolidated statements of operations to conform to the current year presentation. The hay crop sales reclassified for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $265,000 and the related cost of sales was $191,000.
	Pension Liability
	The Company also reclassified our pension liability into other liabilities to conform to the current year presentation. The amount reclassified into other liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $1,085,000.
	Real Estate, Real Estate Development, and Property & Equipment
	In the first quarter of 2015, the Company concluded that it was appropriate to classify its real estate held for development and its income producing real estate as real estate development and real estate and improvements - held for lease, net, respectively, on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Previously, such balances had been classified within property and equipment. This change in the classification has no effect on previously reported consolidated statement of operations for any period. This change better reflects the current use of our real estate development assets.
	Our commercial/industrial segment generates operating income from our real estate property through operating leases with various types of tenants. As a of result of this consideration, we determined during the first quarter of 2015 that these real estate properties fit most appropriately as real estate and improvements - held for lease, net on the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
	As a Company, we are also involved in land entitlement and land development processes. Based on our consideration, we determined during the first quarter of 2015 that these activities fit most appropriately as real estate development on the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
	Based on our considerations for bifurcating the real estate and real estate development activities on the unaudited consolidated financial statements as described above, the Company will present property and equipment activities separately on the unaudited consolidated financial statements. Amounts previously reported as property and equipment at December 31, 2014 have been classified as follows:
		As Originally Reported		As Currently Reported
	Real estate and improvements - held for lease, net	$	—	$	20,226
	Real estate developments	$	—	$	219,654
	Property and equipment, net	$	282,974	$	43,094
		$	282,974	$	282,974
	For further information and a summary of significant accounting policies, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Equity

Equity	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Equity	EQUITY
	Earnings Per Share (EPS)
	Basic net income per share attributable to common stockholders is based upon the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year. Diluted net income per share attributable to common stockholders is based upon the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding and the weighted-average number of shares outstanding assuming the issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants to purchase common stock, and the vesting of restricted stock grants per ASC 260, “Earnings Per Share.”
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar
		2015	2014
	Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
	Common stock	20,645,846	20,568,270
	Common stock equivalents-stock options, grants	60,737	38,218
	Diluted shares outstanding	20,706,583	20,606,488
	Warrants
	On August 7, 2013, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a dividend of warrants, or the Warrants, to purchase shares of Company common stock, par value $0.50 per share, or Common Stock, to holders of record of Common Stock as of August 21, 2013, the Record Date. The Warrants were distributed to shareholders on August 28, 2013. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at an initial exercise price of $40.00 per share. The Warrants will be exercisable through August 31, 2016, subject to the Company's right to accelerate the expiration date under certain circumstances when the Warrants are in-the-money. Each holder of Common Stock as of the Record Date received a number of Warrants equal to the number of shares held multiplied by 0.14771, rounded to the nearest whole number. No cash or other consideration was paid in respect of any fractional Warrants that were rounded down. As a result, the Company issued an aggregate of 3,000,000 Warrants. These Warrants were issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement, dated as of August 7, 2013, between the Company, Computershare, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as warrant agent. The Warrants are currently anti-dilutive and have not been included in the EPS calculation.

Marketable_Securities

Marketable Securities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Marketable Securities	MARKETABLE SECURITIES
	ASC 320 “Investments – Debt and Equity Securities” requires that an enterprise classify all debt securities as either held-to-maturity, trading or available-for-sale. The Company has elected to classify its securities as available-for-sale and therefore is required to adjust securities to fair value at each reporting date. All costs and both realized and unrealized gains and losses on securities are determined on a specific identification basis. The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities at:
	($ in thousands)			March 31, 2015								December 31, 2014
	Marketable Securities:	Fair		Cost				Estimated				Cost				Estimated
		Value						Fair								Fair
		Hierarchy						Value								Value
	Certificates of deposit
	with unrecognized losses for less than 12 months			$	2,567			$	2,561			$	2,522			$	2,492
	with unrecognized losses for more than 12 months			440				438				837				832
	with unrecognized gains			5,784				5,801				5,379				5,395
	Total Certificates of deposit	Level 1		8,791				8,800				8,738				8,719
	US Treasury and agency notes
	with unrecognized losses for less than 12 months			2,947				2,940				1,919				1,910
	with unrecognized losses for more than 12 months			700				700				702				700
	with unrecognized gains			2,860				2,892				1,182				1,207
	Total US Treasury and agency notes	Level 2		6,507				6,532				3,803				3,817
	Corporate notes
	with unrecognized losses for less than 12 months			4,770				4,747				3,872				3,841
	with unrecognized losses for more than 12 months			2,991				2,982				4,423				4,405
	with unrecognized gains			16,663				16,736				16,897				16,963
	Total Corporate notes	Level 2		24,424				24,465				25,192				25,209
	Municipal notes
	with unrecognized losses for less than 12 months			832				829				739				733
	with unrecognized losses for more than 12 months			309				308				457				456
	with unrecognized gains			2,987				3,006				3,183				3,206
	Total Municipal notes	Level 2		4,128				4,143				4,379				4,395
				$	43,850			$	43,940			$	42,112			$	42,140
	We evaluate our securities for other-than-temporary impairment based on the specific facts and circumstances surrounding each security valued below its cost. Factors considered include the length of time the securities have been valued below cost, the financial condition of the issuer, industry reports related to the issuer, the severity of any decline, our intention not to sell the security, and our assessment as to whether it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before a recovery of its amortized cost basis. We then segregate the loss between the amounts representing a decrease in cash flows expected to be collected, or the credit loss, which is recognized through earnings, and the balance of the loss which is recognized through other comprehensive income.
	At March 31, 2015, the fair market value of investment securities exceeded the cost basis by $90,000. The cost basis includes any other-than-temporary impairments that have been recorded for the securities. The Company believes that any unrealized losses in the portfolio are temporary and accordingly, has not recognized other-than-temporary impairment related to any securities as of March 31, 2015. The Company also believes that market factors such as, changes in interest rates, liquidity discounts, and premiums required by market participants rather than an adverse change in cash flows or a fundamental weakness in credit quality of the issuer have led to the temporary declines in value. In the future based on changes in the economy, credit markets, financial condition of issuers, or market interest rates, this could change.
	As of March 31, 2015, the adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive loss in consolidated equity for the temporary change in the value of securities reflects an increase in the market value of available-for-sale securities of $62,000, which includes estimated taxes of $25,000.
	As of March 31, 2015, the Company’s gross unrealized holding gains equal $141,000 and gross unrealized holding losses equal $51,000.
	The following tables summarize the maturities, at par, of marketable securities by year ($ in thousands):
	At March 31, 2015	2015				2016				2017				2018				2019		Total
	Certificates of deposit	$	2,889			$	2,130			$	831			$	2,882			$	—	$	8,732
	U.S. Treasury and agency notes	1,026				600				3,609				1,129				190		6,554
	Corporate notes	6,078				6,704				6,498				4,342				—		23,622
	Municipal notes	1,500				1,235				790				490				—		4,015
		$	11,493			$	10,669			$	11,728			$	8,843			$	190	$	42,923
	At December 31, 2014	2015				2016				2017				2018				Total
	Certificates of deposit	$	4,213			$	1,501			$	831			2,149				$	8,694
	U.S. Treasury and agency notes	1,176				600				1,209				879				3,864
	Corporate notes	9,588				6,704				6,498				1,625				24,415
	Municipal notes	2,105				1,235				790				125				4,255
		$	17,082			$	10,040			$	9,328			$	4,778			$	41,228
	The Company’s investments in corporate notes are with companies that have an investment grade rating from Standard & Poor’s.

LongTerm_Water_Assets

Long-Term Water Assets	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Long Term Water Assets [Abstract]
Long-Term Water Assets	LONG-TERM WATER ASSETS
	Long-term water assets consist of water and water contracts held for future use or sale. The water is held at cost, which includes the price paid for the water and the cost incurred to pump and deliver the water. A portion of our water is currently held in a water bank on Company land in southern Kern County. Company banked water costs also include costs related to the right to receive additional acre feet of water in the future from the Antelope Valley East Kern Water Agency, or AVEK. The Company has also banked water within an AVEK owned water bank.
	In recent years we have also been purchasing water for our future use or sale. In 2008 we purchased 8,393 acre-feet of transferable water and in 2009 we purchased an additional 6,393 acre-feet of transferable water, all of which is currently held on our behalf by AVEK. We also have secured State Water Project, or SWP, entitlement under long-term SWP water contracts within the Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District and the Dudley-Ridge Water District, totaling 3,444 acre-feet of SWP entitlement annually, subject to SWP allocations. These contracts extend through 2035 and now have been transferred to AVEK for our use in the Antelope Valley. In 2013, the Company acquired from DMB Pacific, or DMB, a contract to purchase water that obligates the Company to purchase 6,693 acre feet of water each year from the Nickel Family, LLC, or Nickel, a California limited liability company that is located in Kern County. The initial term of the water purchase agreement with Nickel runs through 2044 and includes a Company option to extend the contract for an additional 35 years. Purchase costs in 2015 were $675 per acre-foot. For future years, the purchase cost is subject to annual increases based on the greater of the consumer price index and 3%.
	The water purchased under the contract with Nickel is expected to be used in the development of the Company’s land for commercial/industrial development, residential development, and farming. Interim uses may include the sale of portions of this water to third party users on an annual basis until this water is fully allocated to Company uses, as just described.
	During the first three months of 2015, we sold 7,054 acre feet of water totaling $8,993,000 with a cost of $5,237,000, which are recorded in the mineral resources segment on the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company also has an agreement to sell 500 acre-feet of water to a local water district during the first quarter of 2016. This commitment can be met through current water assets.
	Water contracts with the Wheeler Ridge Maricopa Water Storage District, or WRMWSD, and the Tejon-Castac Water District, or TCWD, are also in place, but were entered into with each district at inception of the contract and not purchased later from third parties, and do not have a related financial carrying cost on the books of the Company. Therefore there is no amortization expense related to these contracts. Water assets consist of the following:
	(in acre feet, unaudited)	31-Mar-15			31-Dec-14
	Banked water and water for future delivery
	AVEK water bank	13,033			13,033
	Company water bank	8,700			8,700
	AVEK water for future delivery	2,362			2,362
	Total Company and AVEK banked water	24,095			24,095
	Transferable water*	14,786			15,229
	Water Contracts	10,137			10,137
	Total purchased water - third parties	49,018			49,461
	WRMWSD - Contracts with Company	15,547			15,547
	TCWD - Contracts with Company	5,749			5,749
	TCWD - Banked water contracted to Company	37,544			38,401
	Total purchased and contracted water sources in acre feet	107,858			109,158
	*Any transferable water with AVEK that is used by the Company or returned by AVEK to the Company will be returned at a 1.5 to 1 factor giving the Company use of a total of 22,179 (14,786 x 1.5) acre feet.
	($ in thousands)	March 31, 2015				31-Dec-14
	Banked water and water for future delivery	$	4,779			$	4,779
	Transferable water	9,049				9,309
	Water Contracts (net of accumulated amortization of $4,525 and $4,188 at March 31, 2015 and December 2014, respectively)	32,274				32,612
	Total long-term water assets	46,102				46,700
	less: Current portion	(1,351		)		(1,351		)
		$	44,751			$	45,349

Accrued_Liabilities_and_Other

Accrued Liabilities and Other	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued Liabilities and Other	ACCRUED LIABILITIES AND OTHER
	Accrued liabilities and other consists of the following:
	($ in thousands)	March 31, 2015		31-Dec-14
	Accrued vacation	$	786	$	799
	Accrued paid personal leave	605		613
	Accrued bonus	689		1,023
	Property tax payable	789		—
	Other	443		339
		$	3,312	$	2,774

LineofCredit_and_Longterm_Debt

Line-of-Credit and Long-term Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Line-of-Credit and Long-term Debt	LINE OF CREDIT AND LONG-TERM DEBT
	Debt consists of the following:
	($ in thousands)	March 31, 2015			31-Dec-14
	Revolving line of credit	$	3,660		$	6,850
	Notes payable	74,400			74,459
	Total short-term and long-term debt	78,060			81,309
	Less line-of-credit and current maturities of long-term debt	$	(3,907	)	$	(7,094	)
		$	74,153		$	74,215
	On October 13, 2014, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Tejon Ranchcorp, as borrower, entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, a Term Note and a Revolving Line of Credit Note, with Wells Fargo, or collectively the Credit Facility. The Credit Facility amends and restates the Company's existing credit facility dated as of November 5, 2010 and extended on December 4, 2013. The Credit Facility adds a $70,000,000 term loan, or Term Loan to the existing $30,000,000 revolving line of credit, or RLC. Funds from the Term Loan were used to finance the Company's purchase of DMB TMV LLC’s interest in TMV LLC. Any future borrowings under the RLC will be used for ongoing working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes. To maintain availability of funds under the RLC, undrawn amounts under the RLC will accrue a commitment fee of 10 basis points per annum. The Company's ability to borrow additional funds in the future under the RLC is subject to compliance with certain financial covenants and making certain representations and warranties. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the RLC had a $3,660,000 and $6,850,000 outstanding balance, respectively. At the Company’s option, the interest rate on this line of credit can float at 1.50% over a selected LIBOR rate or can be fixed at 1.50% above LIBOR for a fixed rate term. During the term of the Credit Facility (which matures in September 2019), we can borrow at any time and partially or wholly repay any outstanding borrowings and then re-borrow, as necessary.
	The interest rate per annum applicable to the Term Loan is LIBOR (as defined in the Term Note) plus a margin of 170 basis points. The interest rate for the term of the note has been fixed through the use of an interest rate swap at a rate of 4.11%. The Term Loan requires interest only payments for the first two years of the term and thereafter requires monthly amortization payments pursuant to a schedule set forth in the Term Note, with the final outstanding principal amount due October 5, 2024. The Company may make voluntary prepayments on the Term Loan at any time without penalty (excluding any applicable LIBOR or interest rate swap breakage costs). Each optional prepayment will be applied to reduce the most remote principal payment then unpaid. The Credit Facility is secured by the Company's farmland and farm assets, which include equipment, crops and crop receivables and the Calpine power plant lease and lease site, and related accounts and other rights to payment and inventory.
	The Credit Facility requires compliance with three financial covenants: (a) total liabilities divided by tangible net worth not greater than 0.75 to 1.0 at each quarter end; (b) a debt service coverage ratio not less than 1.25 to 1.00 as of each quarter end on a rolling four quarter basis; and (c) maintain liquid assets equal to or greater than $20,000,000. At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we were in compliance with all financial covenants.
	During the third quarter of 2013, we entered into a promissory note agreement to pay a principal amount of $4,750,000 with principal and interest due monthly starting on October 1, 2013. The interest rate on this promissory note is 4.25% per annum, with principal and interest payments ending on September 1, 2028. The proceeds from this promissory note were used to eliminate debt that had been previously used to provide long-term financing for a building being leased to Starbucks and provide additional working capital for future investment. The current balance on the note is $4,400,000. The balance of this long-term debt instrument listed above approximates the fair value of the instrument.

Other_Liabilities_Other_Liabil

Other Liabilities Other Liabilites	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities	OTHER LIABILITIES
	Other liabilities consist of the following:
	($ in thousands)	March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
	Pension liability (See Note 12)	$	3,029	$	3,079
	Interest rate swap liability (See Note 9)	3,622		2,227
	Supplemental executive retirement plan liability (See Note 12)	7,475		7,431
	Share-based awards liability (See Note 8)	1,469		1,065
		$	15,595	$	13,802
	For the captions presented in the table above, please refer to the respective Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail.

Stock_Compensation_Restricted_

Stock Compensation - Restricted Stock and Performance Share Grants	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock Compensation - Restricted Stock and Performance Share Grants	STOCK COMPENSATION - RESTRICTED STOCK AND PERFORMANCE SHARE GRANTS
	The Company’s stock incentive plans provide for the making of awards to employees based upon time-based criteria or through the achievement of performance-related objectives. The Company has issued three types of stock grant awards under these plans: restricted stock with time-based vesting; performance share grants that only vest upon the achievement of specified performance conditions such as corporate cash flow goals; and performance share grants that include threshold, target, and maximum achievement levels based on the achievement of specific performance milestones.
	The following is a summary of the Company's performance share grants with performance conditions for the three months ended March 31, 2015:
	Performance Share Grants with Performance Conditions
	Below threshold performance		—
	Threshold performance		99,184
	Target performance		184,862
	Maximum performance		340,129
	The following is a summary of the Company’s stock grant activity, both time and performance share grants, assuming target achievement for outstanding performance share grants for the following periods:
		March 31, 2015			December 31, 2014
	Stock Grants Outstanding Beginning of the Year at Target Achievement	237,045			265,701
	New Stock Grants/Additional shares due to maximum achievement	83,968			165,996
	Vested Grants	(29,941	)		(41,694	)
	Expired/Forfeited Grants	—			(152,958	)
	Stock Grants Outstanding March 31, 2015 at Target Achievement	291,072			237,045
	The unamortized cost associated with nonvested stock grants and the weighted-average period over which it is expected to be recognized as of March 31, 2015 was $6,025,000 and 26 months, respectively. The fair value of restricted stock with time-based vesting features is based upon the Company’s share price on the date of grant and is expensed over the service period. Fair value of performance share grants that cliff vest based on the achievement of performance conditions is based on the share price of the Company’s stock on the day of grant once the Company determines that it is probable that the award will vest. This fair value is expensed over the service period applicable to these grants. For performance share grants that contain a range of shares from zero to maximum we determine, based on historic and projected results, the probability of (1) achieving the performance objective, and (2) the level of achievement. Based on this information, we determine the fair value of the award and measure the expense over the service period related to these grants. Because the ultimate vesting of all performance share grants is tied to the achievement of a performance condition, we estimate whether the performance condition will be met and over what period of time. Ultimately, we adjust compensation cost according to the actual outcome of the performance condition.
	Beginning in the second half of 2013, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or the Board, conducted a compensation study prepared by an outside consultant that was completed during the first quarter of 2014. One of the outcomes of the compensation study was that the Board elected to modify selected outstanding and unvested performance share grants, or the existing performance milestone grants, and issue new milestone performance grants. The Company has assessed that it is probable that these new performance milestones will be met.
	As discussed above, the performance share grant approved by the Board in March 2014, included the modification of existing performance milestone grants totaling 133,890 restricted stock units and the issuance of new performance share grants totaling 89,837 restricted stock units. The restricted stock units of the modified existing performance milestone grants have been accounted for as probable-to-probable modification since the Company has determined that achieving the existing performance milestones was probable. The unamortized total cost relating to these probable-to-probable modified performance share grants is being recognized ratably over the new requisite service period. The impact of modifying the existing performance stock grants is an annual expense of $1,109,000 over the service period. The values for the 2014 performance grants, including the new milestone grants, are fixed at threshold, target and maximum performance, meaning that the amount of shares at vesting will vary depending on the stock price at that time. The total value for these grants at maximum performance is $5,702,000. These grants cannot be settled in cash and there are sufficient registered shares in the equity compensation plans to meet the delivery requirements. See Note 7 (Other Liabilities) for the amount of liability.
	Under the Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan, or NDSI Plan, each non-employee director receives his or her annual compensation in stock. The stock is granted at the end of each quarter based on the quarter ending stock price.
	The following table summarizes stock compensation costs for the Company's Employee 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, or the Employee Plan, and NDSI Plan for the following periods:
			Three Months Ended				Three Months Ended
	Employee Plan:		March 31,				March 31,
			2015				2014
	Expensed		$	741,000			$	433,000
	Capitalized		36,000				31,000
			777,000				464,000
	NDSI Plan - Expensed		212,000				185,000
			$	989,000			$	649,000

Interest_Rate_Swap_Liability

Interest Rate Swap Liability	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Interest Rate Swap Liability	INTEREST RATE SWAP LIABILITY
	During October 2014, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement to hedge cash flows tied to changes in the underlying floating interest rate tied to LIBOR for the Term Loan as discussed in Note 6 (Line of Credit and Long-Term Debt) of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of our interest rate swap agreement is required to be recognized directly in earnings. During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, our interest rate swap agreement was 100% effective; because of this, no hedge ineffectiveness was recognized in earnings. Changes in fair value, including accrued interest and adjustments for non-performance risk, on the effective portion of our interest rate swap agreements that are designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges are classified in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Amounts classified in accumulated other comprehensive loss are subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period during which the hedged transactions affect earnings. As of March 31, 2015, the fair values of our interest rate swap agreement aggregating a liability balance were classified in other liabilities based upon its respective fair value. We had the following outstanding interest rate swap agreement designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk as of March 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):
	Effective Date	Maturity Date	Fair Value Hierarchy	Weighted Average Interest Pay Rate	Fair Value at March 31, 2015	Notional Amount at March 31, 2015
	October 15, 2014	October 5, 2024	Level 2	4.11%	($3,622)	$70,000

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	INCOME TAXES
	For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company's net income tax expense was $862,000 compared to a net income tax expense of $541,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014. These represent effective income tax rates of approximately 35% and 32% for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and, 2014, respectively. The effective tax rate for the first three months of 2015 is based on forecasted annual pre-tax income for 2015 and lower estimated oil depletion allowances as a result of the decrease in oil revenues as compared to the same period in 2014. For March 31, 2015, we had an income tax payable of $465,000.
	The Company classifies interest and penalties incurred on tax payments as income tax expenses. During the first three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company made $2,100,000 of income tax payments for the 2015 tax year.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	The Company's land is subject to water contracts with minimum future annual payments in 2015 of approximately $7,900,000. These estimated water contract payments consist of SWP, contracts with Wheeler Ridge Maricopa Water Storage District, Tejon-Castac Water District, or TCWD, Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District, Dudley-Ridge Water Storage District and the Nickel water contract. These contracts for the supply of future water run through 2035 and 2044. The Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District and Dudley-Ridge Water Storage District SWP contracts have now been transferred to AVEK, for our use in the Antelope Valley. As discussed in Note 4 (Long-Term Water Assets), we purchased the assignment of a contract to purchase water in late 2013. The assigned water contract is with Nickel Family, LLC, and obligates us to purchase 6,693 acre-feet of water annually starting in 2014 and running through 2044.
	The Company is obligated to make payments of approximately $800,000 per year to the Tejon Ranch Conservancy as prescribed in the Conservation Agreement we entered into with five major environmental organizations in 2008. Our advances to the Tejon Ranch Conservancy are dependent on the occurrence of certain events and their timing, and are therefore subject to change in amount and period. These amounts are recorded in construction in progress for the Centennial and TMV projects.
	The Company exited a consulting contract during the second quarter of 2014 related to the Grapevine Development and is obligated to pay an earned incentive fee at the time of successful receipt of project entitlements and at a value measurement date five-years after entitlements have been achieved for Grapevine. The final amount of the incentive fees will not be finalized until the future payment dates. The Company believes that net savings from exiting the contract over this future time period will more than offset the incentive payment costs.
	The Tejon Ranch Public Facilities Financing Authority, or TRPFFA, is a joint powers authority formed by Kern County and TCWD to finance public infrastructure within the Company’s Kern County developments. TRPFFA has created two Community Facilities Districts, or CFDs, the West CFD and the East CFD. The West CFD has placed liens on 420 acres of the Company’s land to secure payment of special taxes related to $28,620,000 of bond debt sold by TRPFFA for TRCC-West. The East CFD has placed liens on 1,931 acres of the Company’s land to secure payments of special taxes related to $39,750,000 of bond debt sold by TRPFFA for TRCC-East. At TRCC-West, the West CFD has no additional bond debt approved for issuance. At TRCC-East, the East CFD has approximately $80,250,000 of additional bond debt authorized by TRPFFA that can be sold in the future.
	In connection with the sale of bonds there is a standby letter of credit for $5,426,000 related to the issuance of East CFD bonds. The standby letter of credit is in place to provide additional credit enhancement and cover approximately two years' worth of interest on the outstanding bonds. This letter of credit will not be drawn upon unless the Company, as the largest landowner in the CFD, fails to make its property tax payments. The Company believes that the letter of credit will never be drawn upon. The letter of credit is for two years and will be renewed in two-year intervals as necessary. The annual cost related to the letter of credit is approximately $83,000.
	The Company is obligated, as a landowner in each CFD, to pay its share of the special taxes assessed each year. The secured lands include both the TRCC-West and TRCC-East developments. Proceeds from the sale of West CFD bonds went to reimburse the Company for public infrastructure related to the TRCC West development. As of March 31, 2015 there were no additional improvement funds remaining from the West CFD bonds. During the first quarter of 2015, the East CFD reimbursed the Company approximately $4,971,000 for public infrastructure. After this payment there are now no funds remaining in the East CFD improvement fund. During 2014, the Company paid approximately $933,000 in special taxes. As development continues to occur at TRCC, new owners of land and new lease tenants, through triple net leases, will bear an increasing portion of the assessed special tax. This amount could change in the future based on the amount of bonds outstanding and the amount of taxes paid by others. The assessment of each individual property sold or leased is not determinable at this time because it is based on the current tax rate and the assessed value of the property at the time of sale or on its assessed value at the time it is leased to a third-party. Accordingly, the Company is not currently required to recognize an obligation.
	In July 2014, the Company received a copy of a Notice of Intent to Sue, or Notice, dated July 17, 2014 indicating that the Center for Biological Diversity, the Wishtoyo Foundation and Dee Dominguez intend to initiate a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or USFWS, under the federal Endangered Species Act challenging USFWS's approval of the Company's Tehachapi Uplands Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan, or TUMSHCP, and USFWS's issuance of an Incidental Take Permit, or ITP, to the Company for the take of federally listed species. The foregoing approvals authorize, among other things, removal of California condor habitat associated with the Company's potential future development of Tejon Mountain Village. No lawsuit has been filed at this time. It is not possible to predict whether any lawsuit will actually be filed or whether the Company will incur any damages from such a lawsuit.
	Tejon Mountain Village
	On November 10, 2009, a suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California (Fresno division) by David Laughing Horse Robinson, or the plaintiff, an alleged representative of the federally-unrecognized "Kawaiisu Tribe" alleging, inter alia, that the Company does not hold legal title to the land within the Tejon Mountain Village, or TMV development that it seeks to develop. The grounds for the federal lawsuit were the subject of a United States Supreme Court decision in 1924 where the United States Supreme Court found against the Indian tribes. The suit named as defendants the Company, two affiliates (Tejon Mountain Village, LLC and Tejon Ranchcorp), the County of Kern, or the County, and Ken Salazar, in his capacity as U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
	The Company and other defendants filed motions to dismiss the plaintiff's complaint for failure to state a claim and lack of jurisdiction. On January 24, 2011, the Company received a ruling by Judge Wanger dismissing all claims against the Company, TMV, the County and Ken Salazar. However, the judge did grant a limited right by the plaintiff to amend certain causes of action in the complaint.
	During April, 2011, the plaintiff filed his second amended complaint against the Company, alleging similar items as in the original suit. The plaintiff filed new materials during July, 2011 related to his second amended complaint. Thereafter, the case was reassigned to Magistrate Judge McAuliffe. On January 18, 2012, Judge McAuliffe issued an order dismissing all claims in the plaintiff's second amended complaint for failure to state a cause of action and/or for lack of jurisdiction, but allowing the plaintiff one more opportunity to state certain land claims provided the plaintiff file an amended complaint on or before February 17, 2012. The court also indicated that it was considering dismissing the case due to the lack of federal recognition of the "Kawaiisu Tribe". The court then granted the plaintiff an extension until March 19, 2012 to file his third amended complaint.
	The plaintiff filed his third amended complaint on March 19, 2012. The defendants filed motions to dismiss all claims in the third amended complaint without further leave to amend on April 30, 2012. The plaintiff thereafter substituted in new counsel and with leave of court filed his opposition papers on June 8, 2012. The defendants filed their reply papers on June 22, 2012. Oral argument of the motions to dismiss the third amended complaint was conducted on July 20, 2012. On August 7, 2012, the court issued its Order dismissing all of Robinson's claims without leave to amend and with prejudice, on grounds of lack of jurisdiction and failure to state a claim.
	On September 24, 2012, Robinson filed a timely notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On September 26, 2012, the Court of Appeals issued its time schedule order calling for briefing to be completed by February, 2013. Robinson's brief was due to be filed on January 2, 2013. On February 26, 2013, the Ninth Circuit issued an order dismissing the appeal for failure to prosecute including failure to file an opening brief. Forty-five days later, Robinson's counsel filed a motion to reinstate the appeal. As a reason Robinson’s new counsel offered that he overlooked the court of appeal's briefing schedule order and assumed that state court procedure would be followed. In response, the Company and the County filed oppositions to the motion to reinstate the appeal. Despite objections by the Company and the County (in which the U.S. Department of Justice, or the DOJ, did not join), the Ninth Circuit granted Robinson's motion to reinstate, rejected the appeal of that reinstatement decision by the County and the Company, and set a due date of July 7, 2013 for the opposition briefs of the Company and the County to be filed. Thereafter, the DOJ and the County exercised their right to obtain an automatic 30-day extension to August 6, 2013, and the Company filed an unopposed motion (which the Ninth Circuit granted) extending the Company's date for its opposition brief to August 6, 2013 as well. The Company filed its answering brief and supplemental excerpts of record on August 27, 2013. The County and DOJ both filed their answering briefs on September 17, 2013. The plaintiff filed a short reply brief on November 4, 2013. The matter is now fully briefed. The Ninth Circuit initially scheduled an oral argument to occur on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, but counsel for Robinson filed a motion to continue the argument due to a scheduling conflict. A new oral argument was set for November 20, 2014 and was conducted as scheduled. Questions from the panel members seemed to indicate skepticism about Robinson's claims. No written opinion has been received yet, but it is anticipated that one will be received during the second quarter of 2015. In the meantime, the Company continues to believe that a negative outcome of this case is remote and the monetary impact of an adverse result, if any, cannot be estimated at this time.
	National Cement
	The Company leases land to National Cement Company of California Inc., or National, for the purpose of manufacturing Portland cement from limestone deposits on the leased acreage. The California Regional Water Quality Control Board, or RWQCB, for the Lahontan Region issued several orders in the late 1990s with respect to environmental conditions on the property currently leased to National:
	-1	Groundwater plume of chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds. This order directs the Company’s former tenant Lafarge Corporation, or Lafarge, the current tenant National, and the Company to, among other things, clean up groundwater contamination on the leased property. In 2003, Lafarge and National installed a groundwater pump-and-treat system to clean up the groundwater. The Company is advised that Lafarge and National continue to operate the cleanup system and will continue to do so over the near-term.
	-2	Cement kiln dust. National and Lafarge have consolidated, closed and capped cement kiln dust piles located on land leased from the Company. An order of the RWQCB directs National, Lafarge and the Company to maintain and monitor the effectiveness of the cap. Maintenance of the cap and groundwater monitoring remain as on-going activities.
	To date, the Company is not aware of any failure by Lafarge or National to comply with the orders or informal requests of the RWQCB. Under current and prior leases, National and Lafarge are obligated to indemnify the Company for costs and liabilities arising directly or indirectly out of their use of the leased premises. The Company believes that all of the matters described above are included within the scope of the National or Lafarge indemnity obligations and that Lafarge and National have sufficient resources to perform any reasonably likely obligations relating to these matters. If they do not and the Company is required to perform the work at its own cost, it is unlikely that the amount of any such expenditure by the Company would be material.
	Antelope Valley Groundwater Cases
	On November 29, 2004, a conglomerate of public water suppliers filed a cross-complaint in the Los Angeles Superior Court seeking a judicial determination of the rights to groundwater within the Antelope Valley basin, including the groundwater underlying the Company’s land near the Centennial project. Four phases of a multi-phase trial have been completed. Upon completion of the third phase, the court ruled that the groundwater basin is currently in overdraft and established a current total sustainable yield. The fourth phase of trial occurred in first half 2013 and resulted in confirmation of each party’s groundwater pumping for 2011 and 2012. The fifth phase of the trial commenced in February, 2014, and concerned 1) whether the United States has a federal reserved water right to basin groundwater, and 2) the rights to return flows from imported water. The court heard evidence on the federal reserve right but continued the trial on the return flow issues while most of the parties to the adjudication discussed a settlement, including rights to return flows. In February 2015, more than 140 parties representing more than 99% of the current water use within the adjudication boundary agreed to a settlement, or the Woods Class Settlement. On March 4, 2015, the settling parties, including the Company, submitted a Stipulation for Entry of Judgment and Physical Solution to the court for approval. The court has scheduled several weeks commencing on August 3, 2015, for 1) Approval of the Woods Class Settlement, 2) prove-up of the proposed Judgment and Physical Solution, and 3) to hear evidence of all non-settling parties' claims to groundwater. Because the settlement remains subject to court approval and given the complex nature of the adjudication, at this time it is difficult to ascertain what the outcome of the court proceedings will be or whether an alternative Judgment and Physical Solution will be approved by the court, and what effect, if any, this case may have on the Centennial project or the Company’s remaining lands in the Antelope Valley. Because the water supply plan for the Centennial project includes several sources of water in addition to groundwater underlying the Company’s lands, and because the creation of an efficient market for local water rights is frequently an outcome of adjudication proceedings, the Company remains hopeful that sufficient water to supply the Company's needs will continue to be available for its use regardless of the outcome of this case.
	Water Bank Lawsuits
	On June 3, 2010, the Central Delta and South Delta Water Agencies and several environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity (collectively, “Central Delta”), filed a complaint in the Sacramento County Superior Court against the California Department of Water Resources, or DWR, Kern County Water Agency and a number of “real parties in interest,” including the Company and TCWD. The lawsuit challenges certain amendments to the SWP contracts that were originally approved in 1995, known as the “Monterey Amendments.”
	The original Environmental Impact Report, or EIR, for the Monterey Amendments was determined to be insufficient in an earlier lawsuit. The current lawsuit principally (i) challenges the adequacy of the remedial EIR that DWR prepared as a result of the original lawsuit and (ii) challenges the validity of the Monterey Amendments on various grounds, including the transfer of the Kern Water Bank, or “KWB”, from DWR to the Kern County Water Agency and in turn to the Kern Water Bank Authority (“KWBA”), whose members are various Kern and Kings County interests, including TCWD, which TCWD has a 2% interest in the KWBA. A parallel lawsuit was also filed by Central Delta in Sacramento Superior Court against Kern County Water Agency, also naming the Company and TCWD as real parties in interest, which has been stayed pending the outcome of the other action against DWR. The Company is named on the ground that it “controls” TCWD. Another lawsuit was filed in Sacramento by two districts adjacent to the KWB, namely Rosedale Rio Bravo and Buena Vista Water Storage Districts (“Rosedale”), which is before the same court, asserting that the remedial EIR did not adequately evaluate potential impacts arising from future operations of the KWB, but this lawsuit did not name the Company, only TCWD. TCWD has a contract right for water stored in the KWB and rights to recharge and withdraw water. In an initial favorable ruling on January 25, 2013, the court determined that the challenges to the validity of the Monterey Amendments, including the transfer of the KWB, were not timely and were barred by the statutes of limitation, the doctrine of laches, and by the annual validating statute. The substantive hearing on the challenges to the EIR was held on January 31, 2014. On March 5, 2014 the court issued a decision, rejecting all of Central Delta’s California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA claims, except the Rosedale claims, which were joined by Central Delta, that the EIR did not adequately evaluate future impacts from operation of the KWB, in particular potential impacts on groundwater and water quality.
	On November 24, 2014 the court issued a writ of mandate that requires DWR to prepare a revised EIR regarding the Monterey Amendments evaluating the potential operational impacts of the KWB. The writ authorizes the continued operation of the KWB pending completion of the revised EIR subject to certain conditions including those described in an interim operating plan negotiated between the KWBA and Rosedale plaintiffs. The writ of mandate requires DWR to certify the revised EIR by December 31, 2015. DWR is proceeding to prepare the revised EIR. We are uncertain as to whether in the future the writ of mandate or the revised EIR could result in some curtailment in KWBA operations. To the extent there may be an adverse outcome on the claims, the monetary value cannot be estimated at this time.
	On November 24, 2014 the court entered a judgment in the Central Delta case (1) dismissing the challenges to the validity of the Monterey Amendments and the transfer of the KWB in their entirety and (2) granting in part, and denying, in part, the CEQA petition for writ of mandate. Central Delta has appealed the judgment and the KWBA and certain other parties have filed a cross-appeal with regard to the CEQA cause of action. The appeals are pending in the California Court of Appeal.
	On December 3, 2014 the court entered judgment in the Rosedale case (i) in favor of the Rosedale parties in the CEQA cause of action, and (ii) dismissing the declaratory relief cause of action. No appeal of the Rosedale judgment has been filed.

Retirement_Plans

Retirement Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Retirement Plans	RETIREMENT PLANS
	The Company has a defined benefit plan that covers many of its employees, or the Benefit Plan. The benefits are based on years of service and the employee’s five-year final average salary. Contributions are intended to provide for benefits attributable to service both to date and expected to be provided in the future. The Company funds the plan in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Pension Protection Act. The Company anticipates contributing approximately $600,000 to the plan during 2015.
	Plan assets consist of equity, debt and short-term money market investment funds. The plan’s current investment policy targets 65% equities, 25% debt and 10% money market funds. Equity and debt investment percentages are allowed to fluctuate plus or minus 20% to take advantage of market conditions. As an example, equities could fluctuate from 78% to 52% of plan assets. At March 31, 2015, the investment mix was approximately 58% equity, 34% debt, and 8% money market funds. At December 31, 2014, the investment mix was approximately 59% equity, 30% debt and 11% money market funds. Equity investments consist of a combination of individual equity securities plus value funds, growth funds, large cap funds and international stock funds. Debt investments consist of U.S. Treasury securities and investment grade corporate debt. The weighted-average discount rate used in determining the periodic pension cost is 4.3% in 2015 and 2014. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is 7.5% in 2015 and 2014. The long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on the historical returns within the plan and expectations for future returns.
	The expected total pension and retirement expense for the Benefit Plan was as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar
	($ in thousands)	2015			2014
	Cost components:
	Service cost-benefits earned during the period	$	(66	)	$	(90	)
	Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	(117		)	(101		)
	Expected return on plan assets	154			136
	Net amortization and deferral	(70		)	(470		)
	Total net periodic pension cost	$	(99	)	$	(525	)
	During the first quarter of 2014, the Pension Trust purchased annuities for eligible, retired participants of the defined benefit plan. The retirement benefits payments were of a size that met the requirement for settlement accounting within the pension plan. Based on the projected benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets before and after the payment of benefits we realized a $392,000 increase in minimum pension liability and an increase in expense of $407,000 above our normal periodic pension cost.
	The Company has a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, or SERP, to restore to executives designated by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors the full benefits under the pension plan that would otherwise be restricted by certain limitations now imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. The SERP is currently unfunded. The pension and retirement expense for the SERP was as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar
	($ in thousands)	2015			2014
	Cost components:
	Service cost-benefits earned during the period	$	—		$	(80	)
	Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	(69		)	(55		)
	Net amortization and deferral	(84		)	(57		)
	Total net periodic pension cost	$	(153	)	$	(192	)

Business_Segments

Business Segments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Business Segments	BUSINESS SEGMENTS
	We currently operate in four business segments: commercial/industrial real estate development; resort/residential real estate development; mineral resources; and farming.
	Commercial lease revenue consists of land and building leases to tenants at our commercial retail and industrial developments, base and percentage rents from our Calpine power plant lease, communication tower rents, and payments from easement leases. Land management ancillary services include development fees, wildlife management, landscape and property maintenance, and building management services.
	The revenue components of the commercial/industrial real estate development segment were as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar
	($ in thousands)	2015			2014
	Commercial leases	$	2,145		$	1,863
	Grazing leases	387			368
	All other land management ancillary services	830			711
	Total revenue	3,362			2,942
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	1,150			459
	Revenues and equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	$	4,512		$	3,401
	The resort/residential real estate land development segment produces revenues from management fees and is actively involved in the land entitlement and pre-development process.
	The revenue components of the resort/residential real estate land development segment, which represented management fees from TMV prior to us acquiring the remaining ownership interest from our joint venture partner, were as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar
	($ in thousands)	2015			2014
	Management fees	—			90
	Other	—			3
	Total revenue	—			93
	Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated joint ventures	—			(21		)
	Revenues and equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	$	—		$	72
	The mineral resources segment receives oil and mineral royalties from the exploration and development companies that extract or mine the natural resources from our land and receives revenue from water sales. The revenue components of the mineral resources segment was as follows:
			Three Months Ended
			31-Mar
	($ in thousands)		2015			2014
	Oil and gas		$	776		$	1,740
	Water sales		8,993			7,390
	Rock aggregate		102			263
	Cement		242			205
	Land lease for oil exploration		87			56
	Total revenue		$	10,200		$	9,654
	The farming segment produces revenues from the sale of almonds, pistachios, wine grapes, and hay. The revenue components of the farming segment were as follows:
			Three Months Ended
			31-Mar
			2015			2014
	Almonds		$	2,716		$	1,276
	Pistachios		249			308
	Wine grapes		—			—
	Hay		93			262
	Total crop proceeds		3,058			1,846
	Other farming revenues		13			—
	Total farming revenues		$	3,071		$	1,846

Investment_in_Unconsolidated_a

Investment in Unconsolidated and Consolidated Joint Ventures	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Investment in Unconsolidated and Consolidated Joint Ventures	INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED AND CONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES
	The Company accounts for its investments in unconsolidated joint ventures using the equity method of accounting unless the venture is a variable interest entity, or VIE, and meets the requirements for consolidation or is a voting interest entity and is controlled by the Company. The Company’s investment in its unconsolidated joint ventures at March 31, 2015 was $32,666,000. The equity in the income of the unconsolidated joint ventures was $1,150,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The unconsolidated joint ventures have not been consolidated as of March 31, 2015, because the Company does not control the investments. The Company’s current joint ventures are as follows:
	•	Petro Travel Plaza Holdings LLC – TA/Petro is an unconsolidated joint venture with TravelCenters of America, LLC for the development and management of travel plazas and convenience stores. The Company has 50% voting rights and shares 60% of profit and losses in this joint venture. It houses multiple commercial eating establishments as well as diesel and gasoline operations in TRCC. The Company does not control the investment due to its having only 50% voting rights, and because our partner in the joint venture is the managing partner and performs all of the day-to-day operations and has significant decision making authority regarding key business components such as fuel inventory and pricing at the facility. At March 31, 2015, the Company had an equity investment balance of $17,609,000 in this joint venture.
	•	Rockefeller Joint Ventures – The Company has three joint ventures with Rockefeller Group Development Corporation or Rockefeller. Two joint ventures are for the development of buildings on approximately 91 acres and are part of an agreement for the potential development of up to 500 acres of land in TRCC including pursuing Foreign Trade Zone, or FTZ, designation and development of the property within the FTZ for warehouse distribution and light manufacturing. The Company owns a 50% interest in each of the joint ventures. Currently the Five West Parcel LLC joint venture owns and leases a 606,000 square foot building. The Five-West Parcel joint venture currently has an outstanding bank loan with a balance of $11,000,000. The note has been extended to May 2016 in connection with the one-year lease extension of Dollar General and is fully secured by the building as well as guarantees from each partner. We do not believe the bank will call on the guarantees provided. The second of these joint ventures, 18-19 West LLC, was formed in August 2009 through the contribution of 61.5 acres of land by the Company, which is being held for future development.
	The third joint venture, formed during the second quarter of 2013, is the TRCC/Rock Outlet Center LLC joint venture, to develop, own, and manage a 326,000 square foot outlet center on land at TRCC-East. The cost of the outlet center was approximately $87,000,000 and was funded through a construction loan for up to 60% of the costs and the remaining 40% was through equity contributions from the two members. This joint venture is separate from the aforementioned agreement to develop up to 500 acres of land in TRCC. During the fourth quarter of 2013, the TRCC/Rock Outlet Center LLC joint venture entered into a construction line of credit agreement with a financial institution for $52,000,000 that, as of March 31, 2015, had an outstanding balance of $51,134,000.
	At March 31, 2015, the Company’s combined equity investment balance in these three joint ventures was $15,057,000.
	•	Centennial Founders, LLC – Centennial Founders, LLC is a joint venture with Pardee Homes (owned by TRI Pointe Homes), Lewis Investment Company, and Standard Pacific Corp. that was organized to pursue the entitlement and development of land that the Company owns in Los Angeles County. Based on the Second Amended and Restated Limited Company Agreement of Centennial Founders, LLC and the change in control and funding that resulted from the amended agreement, Centennial Founders, LLC qualified as a VIE, beginning in the third quarter of 2009 and the Company was determined to be the primary beneficiary. As a result, Centennial Founders, LLC has been consolidated into our financial statements beginning in that quarter. Our partners retained a noncontrolling interest in the joint venture. At March 31, 2015 the Company had a 74.08% ownership position in Centennial Founders, LLC.
	The Company’s investment balance in its unconsolidated joint ventures differs from its respective capital accounts in the respective joint ventures. The differential represents the difference between the cost basis of assets contributed by the Company and the agreed upon contribution value of the assets contributed.
	Unaudited condensed balance sheet information of the Company’s unconsolidated and consolidated joint ventures as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and unaudited condensed statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014 are as follows:
	Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015
			UNCONSOLIDATED															CONSOLIDATED
	($ in thousands)		Petro Travel			Five West Parcel			18-19 West			TRCC/Rock Outlet Center			Total			Centennial-VIE
			Plaza						LLC
			Holdings
	Revenues		$	21,861		$	995		$	7		$	2,069		$	24,932		$	93
	Net income (loss)		$	1,934		$	182		$	(2	)	$	(201	)	$	1,913		$	(62	)
	Partner’s share of net income (loss)		$	774		$	91		$	(1	)	$	(101	)	$	763		$	(16	)
	Equity in earnings (losses)		$	1,160		$	91		$	(1	)	$	(100	)	$	1,150		$	—
	Balance Sheet Information as of March 31, 2015
			UNCONSOLIDATED															CONSOLIDATED
	($ in thousands)		Petro Travel			Five West Parcel			18-19 West LLC			TRCC/Rock Outlet Center			Total			Centennial-VIE
			Plaza
			Holdings
	Current assets		$	20,131		$	2,489		$	33		$	3,653		$	26,306		$	103
	Property and equipment, net		48,170			14,341			4,639			66,067			133,217			78,032
	Other assets		—			74			—			20,930			21,004			14
	Long-term debt		(15,604		)	(11,000		)	—			(51,134		)	(77,738		)
	Other liabilities		(2,683		)	(592		)	(5		)	(1,744		)	(5,024		)	(345		)
	Net assets		$	50,014		$	5,312		$	4,667		$	37,772		$	97,765		$	77,804
	Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014
			UNCONSOLIDATED																		CONSOLIDATED
	($ in thousands)		Petro Travel			Five			18-19			TRCC/Rock Outlet Center			Tejon Mountain Village*			Total			Centennial-VIE
			Plaza			West			West
			Holdings			Parcel
	Revenues		$	25,053		$	844		$	16		$	—		$	—		$	25,913		$	269
	Net income (loss)		$	998		$	59		$	5		$	(344	)	$	(42	)	$	676		$	68
	Partner’s share of net income (loss)		$	399		$	30		$	2		$	(172	)	$	(21	)	$	238		$	18
	Equity in earnings (losses)		$	599		$	29		$	3		$	(172	)	$	(21	)	$	438		$	—
	*The Company purchased DMB TMV LLC's membership interest in the Tejon Mountain Village joint venture on July 15, 2014.
	Balance Sheet Information as of December 31, 2014
			UNCONSOLIDATED															CONSOLIDATED
	($ in thousands)		Petro Travel			Five West Parcel			18-19 West			TRCC/Rock Outlet Center			Total			Centennial-VIE
			Plaza						LLC
			Holdings
	Current assets		$	18,960		$	3,834		$	5		$	2,302		$	25,101		$	651
	Property and equipment, net		48,011			14,869			4,617			66,112			133,609			77,373
	Other assets		181			67			—			19,624			19,872
	Long-term debt		(15,808		)	(11,000		)	—			(45,449		)	(72,257		)
	Other liabilities		(3,263		)	(440		)	(2		)	(4,616		)	(8,321		)	(158		)
	Net assets		$	48,081		$	7,330		$	4,620		$	37,973		$	98,004		$	77,866

Basis_of_Presentation_Tables

Basis of Presentation (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Schedule of Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments	Amounts previously reported as property and equipment at December 31, 2014 have been classified as follows:
		As Originally Reported		As Currently Reported
	Real estate and improvements - held for lease, net	$	—	$	20,226
	Real estate developments	$	—	$	219,654
	Property and equipment, net	$	282,974	$	43,094
		$	282,974	$	282,974

Equity_Tables

Equity (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Schedule of weighted average number of shares outstanding	Diluted net income per share attributable to common stockholders is based upon the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding and the weighted-average number of shares outstanding assuming the issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants to purchase common stock, and the vesting of restricted stock grants per ASC 260, “Earnings Per Share.”
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar
		2015	2014
	Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
	Common stock	20,645,846	20,568,270
	Common stock equivalents-stock options, grants	60,737	38,218
	Diluted shares outstanding	20,706,583	20,606,488

Marketable_Securities_Tables

Marketable Securities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Summary of available-for-sale securities	The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities at:
	($ in thousands)			March 31, 2015								December 31, 2014
	Marketable Securities:	Fair		Cost				Estimated				Cost				Estimated
		Value						Fair								Fair
		Hierarchy						Value								Value
	Certificates of deposit
	with unrecognized losses for less than 12 months			$	2,567			$	2,561			$	2,522			$	2,492
	with unrecognized losses for more than 12 months			440				438				837				832
	with unrecognized gains			5,784				5,801				5,379				5,395
	Total Certificates of deposit	Level 1		8,791				8,800				8,738				8,719
	US Treasury and agency notes
	with unrecognized losses for less than 12 months			2,947				2,940				1,919				1,910
	with unrecognized losses for more than 12 months			700				700				702				700
	with unrecognized gains			2,860				2,892				1,182				1,207
	Total US Treasury and agency notes	Level 2		6,507				6,532				3,803				3,817
	Corporate notes
	with unrecognized losses for less than 12 months			4,770				4,747				3,872				3,841
	with unrecognized losses for more than 12 months			2,991				2,982				4,423				4,405
	with unrecognized gains			16,663				16,736				16,897				16,963
	Total Corporate notes	Level 2		24,424				24,465				25,192				25,209
	Municipal notes
	with unrecognized losses for less than 12 months			832				829				739				733
	with unrecognized losses for more than 12 months			309				308				457				456
	with unrecognized gains			2,987				3,006				3,183				3,206
	Total Municipal notes	Level 2		4,128				4,143				4,379				4,395
				$	43,850			$	43,940			$	42,112			$	42,140
Summary of maturities, at par, of marketable securities by year	The following tables summarize the maturities, at par, of marketable securities by year ($ in thousands):
	At March 31, 2015	2015				2016				2017				2018				2019		Total
	Certificates of deposit	$	2,889			$	2,130			$	831			$	2,882			$	—	$	8,732
	U.S. Treasury and agency notes	1,026				600				3,609				1,129				190		6,554
	Corporate notes	6,078				6,704				6,498				4,342				—		23,622
	Municipal notes	1,500				1,235				790				490				—		4,015
		$	11,493			$	10,669			$	11,728			$	8,843			$	190	$	42,923
	At December 31, 2014	2015				2016				2017				2018				Total
	Certificates of deposit	$	4,213			$	1,501			$	831			2,149				$	8,694
	U.S. Treasury and agency notes	1,176				600				1,209				879				3,864
	Corporate notes	9,588				6,704				6,498				1,625				24,415
	Municipal notes	2,105				1,235				790				125				4,255
		$	17,082			$	10,040			$	9,328			$	4,778			$	41,228

LongTerm_Water_Assets_Tables

Long-Term Water Assets (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Long Term Water Assets [Abstract]
Components of water assets	Water assets consist of the following:
	(in acre feet, unaudited)	31-Mar-15			31-Dec-14
	Banked water and water for future delivery
	AVEK water bank	13,033			13,033
	Company water bank	8,700			8,700
	AVEK water for future delivery	2,362			2,362
	Total Company and AVEK banked water	24,095			24,095
	Transferable water*	14,786			15,229
	Water Contracts	10,137			10,137
	Total purchased water - third parties	49,018			49,461
	WRMWSD - Contracts with Company	15,547			15,547
	TCWD - Contracts with Company	5,749			5,749
	TCWD - Banked water contracted to Company	37,544			38,401
	Total purchased and contracted water sources in acre feet	107,858			109,158
	*Any transferable water with AVEK that is used by the Company or returned by AVEK to the Company will be returned at a 1.5 to 1 factor giving the Company use of a total of 22,179 (14,786 x 1.5) acre feet.
	($ in thousands)	March 31, 2015				31-Dec-14
	Banked water and water for future delivery	$	4,779			$	4,779
	Transferable water	9,049				9,309
	Water Contracts (net of accumulated amortization of $4,525 and $4,188 at March 31, 2015 and December 2014, respectively)	32,274				32,612
	Total long-term water assets	46,102				46,700
	less: Current portion	(1,351		)		(1,351		)
		$	44,751			$	45,349

Accrued_Liabilities_and_Other_

Accrued Liabilities and Other (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Schedule of Accrued Liabilities	Accrued liabilities and other consists of the following:
	($ in thousands)	March 31, 2015		31-Dec-14
	Accrued vacation	$	786	$	799
	Accrued paid personal leave	605		613
	Accrued bonus	689		1,023
	Property tax payable	789		—
	Other	443		339
		$	3,312	$	2,774

LineofCredit_and_Longterm_Debt1

Line-of-Credit and Long-term Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Components of long-term debt	Debt consists of the following:
	($ in thousands)	March 31, 2015			31-Dec-14
	Revolving line of credit	$	3,660		$	6,850
	Notes payable	74,400			74,459
	Total short-term and long-term debt	78,060			81,309
	Less line-of-credit and current maturities of long-term debt	$	(3,907	)	$	(7,094	)
		$	74,153		$	74,215

Other_Liabilities_Tables

Other Liabilities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Liabilities	Other liabilities consist of the following:
	($ in thousands)	March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
	Pension liability (See Note 12)	$	3,029	$	3,079
	Interest rate swap liability (See Note 9)	3,622		2,227
	Supplemental executive retirement plan liability (See Note 12)	7,475		7,431
	Share-based awards liability (See Note 8)	1,469		1,065
		$	15,595	$	13,802

Stock_Compensation_Restricted_1

Stock Compensation - Restricted Stock and Performance Share Grants (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Summary of performance share grants with performance conditions	The following is a summary of the Company's performance share grants with performance conditions for the three months ended March 31, 2015:
	Performance Share Grants with Performance Conditions
	Below threshold performance		—
	Threshold performance		99,184
	Target performance		184,862
	Maximum performance		340,129
Summary of stock grant activity	The following is a summary of the Company’s stock grant activity, both time and performance share grants, assuming target achievement for outstanding performance share grants for the following periods:
		March 31, 2015			December 31, 2014
	Stock Grants Outstanding Beginning of the Year at Target Achievement	237,045			265,701
	New Stock Grants/Additional shares due to maximum achievement	83,968			165,996
	Vested Grants	(29,941	)		(41,694	)
	Expired/Forfeited Grants	—			(152,958	)
	Stock Grants Outstanding March 31, 2015 at Target Achievement	291,072			237,045
Summary of stock compensation costs for Employee and NDSI Plans	The following table summarizes stock compensation costs for the Company's Employee 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, or the Employee Plan, and NDSI Plan for the following periods:
			Three Months Ended				Three Months Ended
	Employee Plan:		March 31,				March 31,
			2015				2014
	Expensed		$	741,000			$	433,000
	Capitalized		36,000				31,000
			777,000				464,000
	NDSI Plan - Expensed		212,000				185,000
			$	989,000			$	649,000

Interest_Rate_Swap_Liability_T

Interest Rate Swap Liability (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Interest Rate Derivatives	We had the following outstanding interest rate swap agreement designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk as of March 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):
	Effective Date	Maturity Date	Fair Value Hierarchy	Weighted Average Interest Pay Rate	Fair Value at March 31, 2015	Notional Amount at March 31, 2015
	October 15, 2014	October 5, 2024	Level 2	4.11%	($3,622)	$70,000

Retirement_Plans_Tables

Retirement Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Pension plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Components of net periodic pension cost	The expected total pension and retirement expense for the Benefit Plan was as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar
	($ in thousands)	2015			2014
	Cost components:
	Service cost-benefits earned during the period	$	(66	)	$	(90	)
	Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	(117		)	(101		)
	Expected return on plan assets	154			136
	Net amortization and deferral	(70		)	(470		)
	Total net periodic pension cost	$	(99	)	$	(525	)
SERP
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Components of net periodic pension cost	The pension and retirement expense for the SERP was as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar
	($ in thousands)	2015			2014
	Cost components:
	Service cost-benefits earned during the period	$	—		$	(80	)
	Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	(69		)	(55		)
	Net amortization and deferral	(84		)	(57		)
	Total net periodic pension cost	$	(153	)	$	(192	)

Business_Segments_Tables

Business Segments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Real estate - commercial/industrial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Components of segment revenues	The revenue components of the commercial/industrial real estate development segment were as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar
	($ in thousands)	2015			2014
	Commercial leases	$	2,145		$	1,863
	Grazing leases	387			368
	All other land management ancillary services	830			711
	Total revenue	3,362			2,942
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	1,150			459
	Revenues and equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	$	4,512		$	3,401
Real estate - resort/residential
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Components of segment revenues	The revenue components of the resort/residential real estate land development segment, which represented management fees from TMV prior to us acquiring the remaining ownership interest from our joint venture partner, were as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar
	($ in thousands)	2015			2014
	Management fees	—			90
	Other	—			3
	Total revenue	—			93
	Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated joint ventures	—			(21		)
	Revenues and equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	$	—		$	72
Mineral resources
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Components of segment revenues	The revenue components of the mineral resources segment was as follows:
			Three Months Ended
			31-Mar
	($ in thousands)		2015			2014
	Oil and gas		$	776		$	1,740
	Water sales		8,993			7,390
	Rock aggregate		102			263
	Cement		242			205
	Land lease for oil exploration		87			56
	Total revenue		$	10,200		$	9,654
Farming Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Components of segment revenues	The farming segment produces revenues from the sale of almonds, pistachios, wine grapes, and hay. The revenue components of the farming segment were as follows:
			Three Months Ended
			31-Mar
			2015			2014
	Almonds		$	2,716		$	1,276
	Pistachios		249			308
	Wine grapes		—			—
	Hay		93			262
	Total crop proceeds		3,058			1,846
	Other farming revenues		13			—
	Total farming revenues		$	3,071		$	1,846

Investment_in_Unconsolidated_a1

Investment in Unconsolidated and Consolidated Joint Ventures (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Condensed statements of operations and balance sheet information of consolidated and unconsolidated joint ventures	Unaudited condensed balance sheet information of the Company’s unconsolidated and consolidated joint ventures as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and unaudited condensed statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014 are as follows:
	Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015
		UNCONSOLIDATED															CONSOLIDATED
	($ in thousands)	Petro Travel			Five West Parcel			18-19 West			TRCC/Rock Outlet Center			Total			Centennial-VIE
		Plaza						LLC
		Holdings
	Revenues	$	21,861		$	995		$	7		$	2,069		$	24,932		$	93
	Net income (loss)	$	1,934		$	182		$	(2	)	$	(201	)	$	1,913		$	(62	)
	Partner’s share of net income (loss)	$	774		$	91		$	(1	)	$	(101	)	$	763		$	(16	)
	Equity in earnings (losses)	$	1,160		$	91		$	(1	)	$	(100	)	$	1,150		$	—
	Balance Sheet Information as of March 31, 2015
		UNCONSOLIDATED															CONSOLIDATED
	($ in thousands)	Petro Travel			Five West Parcel			18-19 West LLC			TRCC/Rock Outlet Center			Total			Centennial-VIE
		Plaza
		Holdings
	Current assets	$	20,131		$	2,489		$	33		$	3,653		$	26,306		$	103
	Property and equipment, net	48,170			14,341			4,639			66,067			133,217			78,032
	Other assets	—			74			—			20,930			21,004			14
	Long-term debt	(15,604		)	(11,000		)	—			(51,134		)	(77,738		)
	Other liabilities	(2,683		)	(592		)	(5		)	(1,744		)	(5,024		)	(345		)
	Net assets	$	50,014		$	5,312		$	4,667		$	37,772		$	97,765		$	77,804
	Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014
		UNCONSOLIDATED																		CONSOLIDATED
	($ in thousands)	Petro Travel			Five			18-19			TRCC/Rock Outlet Center			Tejon Mountain Village*			Total			Centennial-VIE
		Plaza			West			West
		Holdings			Parcel
	Revenues	$	25,053		$	844		$	16		$	—		$	—		$	25,913		$	269
	Net income (loss)	$	998		$	59		$	5		$	(344	)	$	(42	)	$	676		$	68
	Partner’s share of net income (loss)	$	399		$	30		$	2		$	(172	)	$	(21	)	$	238		$	18
	Equity in earnings (losses)	$	599		$	29		$	3		$	(172	)	$	(21	)	$	438		$	—
	*The Company purchased DMB TMV LLC's membership interest in the Tejon Mountain Village joint venture on July 15, 2014.
	Balance Sheet Information as of December 31, 2014
		UNCONSOLIDATED															CONSOLIDATED
	($ in thousands)	Petro Travel			Five West Parcel			18-19 West			TRCC/Rock Outlet Center			Total			Centennial-VIE
		Plaza						LLC
		Holdings
	Current assets	$	18,960		$	3,834		$	5		$	2,302		$	25,101		$	651
	Property and equipment, net	48,011			14,869			4,617			66,112			133,609			77,373
	Other assets	181			67			—			19,624			19,872
	Long-term debt	(15,808		)	(11,000		)	—			(45,449		)	(72,257		)
	Other liabilities	(3,263		)	(440		)	(2		)	(4,616		)	(8,321		)	(158		)
	Net assets	$	48,081		$	7,330		$	4,620		$	37,973		$	98,004		$	77,866

Basis_of_Presentation_Reclassi

Basis of Presentation - Reclassifications (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
	segment
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments	4
Cost of purchased water	$5,237	$4,388
Water assets sales price	8,993	7,390
Pension plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Prior year amortization reclassification adjustment		-1,085
Mineral resources expenses
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Prior year amortization reclassification adjustment		-338
Corporate expenses
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Prior year amortization reclassification adjustment		338,000
Hay Sales, Centennial Operations
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Prior year amortization reclassification adjustment		-265
Hay Sales, Centennial Operations | Cost of Sales
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Prior year amortization reclassification adjustment		($191)

Basis_of_Presentation_Prior_Pe

Basis of Presentation - Prior Period Adjustments (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Real estate and improvements - held for lease, net	$20,185	$20,226
Real estate developments	220,812	219,654
Property and equipment, net	43,453	43,094
Bifurcation of Real Estate and Real Estate Development Activities
Real estate and improvements - held for lease, net	20,226
Real estate developments	219,654
Property and equipment, net	43,094
Total adjustments	282,974
Bifurcation of Real Estate and Real Estate Development Activities | As Originally Reported
Real estate and improvements - held for lease, net		0
Real estate developments		0
Property and equipment, net		282,974
Total adjustments		$282,974

Equity_Earnings_Per_Share_EPS_

Equity - Earnings Per Share (EPS) (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract]
Common stock	20,645,846	20,568,270
Common stock equivalents-stock options, grants	60,737	38,218
Diluted shares outstanding	20,706,583	20,606,488

Equity_Equity_Method_Investmen

Equity - Equity Method Investments (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 07, 2013	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Common stock, par value per share		$0.50	$0.50
Ratio of common stock to warrant	0.14771
Warrant
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Exercise price	40
Number of securities called by warrants	3

Marketable_Securities_Summary_

Marketable Securities - Summary of Available-for-sale Securities (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Summary of available-for-sale securities
Available-for-sale securities, Cost	$43,850	$42,112
Available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	43,940	42,140
Level 1 | Certificates of deposit
Summary of available-for-sale securities
Unrecognized losses for less than 12 months, Cost	2,567	2,522
Unrecognized losses for more than 12 months, Cost	440	837
Unrecognized gains, Cost	5,784	5,379
Available-for-sale securities, Cost	8,791	8,738
Unrecognized losses for less than 12 months, Estimated Fair value	2,561	2,492
Unrecognized losses for more than 12 months, Estimated Fair value	438	832
Unrecognized gains, Estimated Fair value	5,801	5,395
Available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	8,800	8,719
Level 2 | U.S. Treasury and agency notes
Summary of available-for-sale securities
Unrecognized losses for less than 12 months, Cost	2,947	1,919
Unrecognized losses for more than 12 months, Cost	700	702
Unrecognized gains, Cost	2,860	1,182
Available-for-sale securities, Cost	6,507	3,803
Unrecognized losses for less than 12 months, Estimated Fair value	2,940	1,910
Unrecognized losses for more than 12 months, Estimated Fair value	700	700
Unrecognized gains, Estimated Fair value	2,892	1,207
Available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	6,532	3,817
Level 2 | Corporate notes
Summary of available-for-sale securities
Unrecognized losses for less than 12 months, Cost	4,770	3,872
Unrecognized losses for more than 12 months, Cost	2,991	4,423
Unrecognized gains, Cost	16,663	16,897
Available-for-sale securities, Cost	24,424	25,192
Unrecognized losses for less than 12 months, Estimated Fair value	4,747	3,841
Unrecognized losses for more than 12 months, Estimated Fair value	2,982	4,405
Unrecognized gains, Estimated Fair value	16,736	16,963
Available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	24,465	25,209
Level 2 | Municipal notes
Summary of available-for-sale securities
Unrecognized losses for less than 12 months, Cost	832	739
Unrecognized losses for more than 12 months, Cost	309	457
Unrecognized gains, Cost	2,987	3,183
Available-for-sale securities, Cost	4,128	4,379
Unrecognized losses for less than 12 months, Estimated Fair value	829	733
Unrecognized losses for more than 12 months, Estimated Fair value	308	456
Unrecognized gains, Estimated Fair value	3,006	3,206
Available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	$4,143	$4,395

Marketable_Securities_Availabl

Marketable Securities - Available-for-sale Securities by Maturities (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Summary of maturities, at par, of marketable securities
2015	$11,493	$17,082
2016	10,669	10,040
2017	11,728	9,328
2018	8,843	4,778
2019	190
Total	42,923	41,228
Certificates of deposit
Summary of maturities, at par, of marketable securities
2015	2,889	4,213
2016	2,130	1,501
2017	831	831
2018	2,882	2,149
2019	0
Total	8,732	8,694
U.S. Treasury and agency notes
Summary of maturities, at par, of marketable securities
2015	1,026	1,176
2016	600	600
2017	3,609	1,209
2018	1,129	879
2019	190
Total	6,554	3,864
Corporate notes
Summary of maturities, at par, of marketable securities
2015	6,078	9,588
2016	6,704	6,704
2017	6,498	6,498
2018	4,342	1,625
2019	0
Total	23,622	24,415
Municipal notes
Summary of maturities, at par, of marketable securities
2015	1,500	2,105
2016	1,235	1,235
2017	790	790
2018	490	125
2019	0
Total	$4,015	$4,255

Marketable_Securities_Addition

Marketable Securities - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Fair market value of investment securities exceeds cost basis	$90
Changes in unrealized gains on available for sale securities, taxes	62	12
Estimated taxes of change in value of available-for-sale securities	25
Gross unrealized holding gains	141
Gross unrealized holding losses	$51

LongTerm_Water_Assets_Volume_o

Long-Term Water Assets - Volume of Water Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
	aft				aft			aft	aft
Long-term Water Assets [Line Items]
Contract renewal optional term			35 years
Water sold (Volume)	7,054
Water assets sales price	$8,993		$7,390
Cost of purchased water	$5,237		$4,388
Banked water and water for future delivery
Total purchased water - third parties	49,018				49,461
Total purchased and contracted water sources in acre feet	107,858				109,158
Transferable water with AVEK multiple							1.5
AVEK
Banked water and water for future delivery
AVEK water bank	13,033				13,033			6,393	8,393
Company water bank	8,700				8,700
AVEK water for future delivery	2,362				2,362
Banked water and water for future delivery	24,095				24,095
Transferable water	14,786	[1]			15,229	[1]
Affiliated Entity
Banked water and water for future delivery
Water contracts and purchased water	10,137				10,137
SWP contracts
Banked water and water for future delivery
AVEK water for future delivery								3,444
Wheeler Ridge Maricopa Water Storage District
Banked water and water for future delivery
Water contracts and purchased water	15,547				15,547
Tejon-Castac Water District
Banked water and water for future delivery
Banked water and water for future delivery	37,544				38,401
Water contracts and purchased water	5,749				5,749
Transferable water
Banked water and water for future delivery
Total purchased water - third parties							22,179
Transferable water | DMB
Banked water and water for future delivery
Total purchased water - third parties	6,693
Maximum | DMB
Long-term Water Assets [Line Items]
Annual fee increase, percent			3.00%
Scenario, Forecast | DMB
Long-term Water Assets [Line Items]
Consumer price per acre				675
[1]	Any transferable water with AVEK that is used by the Company or returned by AVEK to the Company will be returned at a 1.5 to 1 factor giving the Company use of a total of 22,179 (14,786 x 1.5) acre feet.

LongTerm_Water_Assets_Value_of

Long-Term Water Assets - Value of Water Assets (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Components of water assets
Total long-term assets	$46,102	$46,700
less: Current portion	-1,351	-1,351
Long-term water assets	44,751	45,349
Banked water and water for future delivery
Components of water assets
Total long-term assets	4,779	4,779
Transferable water
Components of water assets
Total long-term assets	9,049	9,309
SWP contracts
Components of water assets
Total long-term assets	32,274	32,612
Accumulated amortization	$4,525	$4,188

Accrued_Liabilities_and_Other_1

Accrued Liabilities and Other (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued vacation	$786	$799
Accrued paid personal leave	605	613
Accrued bonus	689	1,023
Property tax payable	789	0
Other	443	339
Total	$3,312	$2,774

LineofCredit_and_Longterm_Debt2

Line-of-Credit and Long-term Debt - Components of Debt (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Long-term debt consists of:
Long-term debt	$78,060,000	$81,309,000
Less line-of-credit and current maturities of long-term debt	-3,907,000	-7,094,000
Long-term debt, less current portion	74,153,000	74,215,000
Revolving line of credit
Long-term debt consists of:
Long-term debt	3,660,000	6,850,000
Note payable to a bank
Long-term debt consists of:
Long-term debt	$74,400,000	$74,459,000

LineofCredit_and_Longterm_Debt3

Line-of-Credit and Long-term Debt - Line of Credit (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$78,060,000	81,309,000
Commitment fee percentage	0.10%
Debt instrument face amount			4,750,000
Stated interest rate			4.25%
Selected LIBOR rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate on line of credit, variable rate	1.50%
LIBOR for a fixed rate term
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate on line of credit, variable rate	1.50%
Term Notes
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit amount	70,000,000
Weighted average interest pay rate	4.11%
Periodic payments, interest only period	2 years
Term Notes | Selected LIBOR rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate on line of credit, variable rate		1.70%
Revolving line of credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit amount	30,000,000
Line of credit outstanding balance	3,660,000	6,850,000
Liquid assets	20,000,000
Revolving line of credit | Maximum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt equity ratio	0.75
Revolving line of credit | Minimum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt service coverage ratio	1.25
Revolving line of credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Long-term debt	3,660,000	6,850,000
Promissory note agreement
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$4,400,000

Other_Liabilities_Details

Other Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Other Liabilities [Line Items]
Share-based awards liability (See Note 8)	$1,469	$1,065
Other liabilities	15,595	13,802
Pension plan
Other Liabilities [Line Items]
Pension liability (See Note 12)	3,029	3,079
SERP
Other Liabilities [Line Items]
Pension liability (See Note 12)	7,475	7,431
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap | Other Liabilities
Other Liabilities [Line Items]
Interest rate swap liability (See Note 9)	$3,622	$2,227

Stock_Compensation_Restricted_2

Stock Compensation - Restricted Stock and Performance Share Grants - Performance Share Grants (Details) (Performance share grants)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Performance share grants
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Below threshold performance	0
Performance Awards Granted with Performance Conditions, Minimum Number of Shares to be Issued, at Threshold Performance	99,184
Threshold and target performance	184,862
Maximum performance	340,129

Stock_Compensation_Restricted_3

Stock Compensation - Restricted Stock and Performance Share Grants - Summary of Stock Grant Activity (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of stock grant activity:
Stock Grants Outstanding Beginning of the Year at Target Achievement	237,045	265,701
New Stock Grants/Additional shares due to maximum achievement	83,968	165,996
Vested Grants	-29,941	-41,694
Expired/Forfeited Grants	0	-152,958
Stock Grants Outstanding March 31, 2015 at Target Achievement	291,072

Stock_Compensation_Restricted_4

Stock Compensation - Restricted Stock and Performance Share Grants - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total compensation cost not yet recognized	$6,025
Total compensation cost not yet recognized, period for recognition	26 months
New Stock Grants/Additional shares due to maximum achievement	83,968	165,996
Performance share grants | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Additional shares authorized			133,890
New Stock Grants/Additional shares due to maximum achievement			89,837
Modifications annual cost	1,109
Modifications aggregate fair value	$5,702

Stock_Compensation_Restricted_5

Stock Compensation - Restricted Stock and Performance Share Grants - Compensation Costs (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock compensation costs	$989	$649
1998 Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock compensation costs, expensed	741	433
Stock compensation costs, capitalized	36	31
Stock compensation costs	777	464
NDSI Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock compensation costs, expensed	$212	$185

Interest_Rate_Swap_Liability_D

Interest Rate Swap Liability (Details) (Level 2, Interest Rate Swap, Other Liabilities, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap | Other Liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Weighted Average Interest Pay Rate	4.11%
Fair Value at March 31, 2015	($3,622)
Notional Amount at March 31, 2015	$70,000

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income tax expense	$862,000	$541,000
Effective income tax rate	35.00%	32.00%
Income taxes payable	465,000		1,703,000
Income taxes paid	$2,100,000

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Nov. 10, 2009	Feb. 28, 2015	Sep. 30, 2013
	facility	aft	defendant	participant
	aft
Commitment and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Future minimum payments due	$7,900,000
Long-term water assets (volume)	49,018	49,461
Estimated future payments	800,000
Number of community facility districts	2
Additional bond debt authorized to be sold in future					4,750,000
Letter of credit period	2 years
Letter of credit renewal period	2 years
Special taxes paid		933,000
Percentage of interest rate held	2.00%
Standby letter of credit
Commitment and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding amount	5,426,000
Annual cost related to letter of credit	83,000
West CFD
Commitment and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Acres of land related to land liens	420
Bond debt sold by TRPFFA	28,620,000
Additional bond debt authorized to be sold in future	0
Additional reimbursement funds	0
East CFD
Commitment and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Acres of land related to land liens	1,931
Letters of credit outstanding amount	39,750,000
Additional bond debt authorized to be sold in future	80,250,000
Additional reimbursement funds		$4,971,000
Transferable water
Commitment and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Long-term water assets (volume)					22,179
Transferable water | DMB
Commitment and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Long-term water assets (volume)	6,693
Affiliated Entity
Commitment and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of defendants			2
Settled Litigation | Antelope Valley Groundwater Cases
Commitment and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of parties settled, more than				140

Retirement_Plans_Additional_In

Retirement Plans - Additional Information (Details) (Pension plan, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated contribution to the pension plan	$600
Current investment policy targets:
Defined Benefit Plan Assets, Target Allocation Period Increase (Decrease) Percentage	20.00%
Assumptions used in determining periodic pension cost:
Discount rate	4.30%	4.30%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	7.50%	7.50%
Increase in pension liability due to annuity settlement		392
Increase in expense due to annuity settlement		$407
Equities
Current investment policy targets:
Current investment policy target	65.00%
Current investment policy target, maximum	78.00%
Current investment policy target, minimum	52.00%
Current investment mix	58.00%		59.00%
Treasury/Corporate Notes
Current investment policy targets:
Current investment policy target	25.00%
Current investment mix	34.00%		30.00%
Money market funds
Current investment policy targets:
Current investment policy target	10.00%
Current investment mix	8.00%		11.00%

Retirement_Plans_Net_Periodic_

Retirement Plans - Net Periodic Pension Cost (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Pension plan
Cost components:
Service cost-benefits earned during the period	($66)	($90)
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	-117	-101
Expected return on plan assets	154	136
Net amortization and deferral	-70	-470
Total net periodic pension cost	-99	-525
SERP
Cost components:
Service cost-benefits earned during the period	0	-80
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	-69	-55
Net amortization and deferral	-84	-57
Total net periodic pension cost	($153)	($192)

Business_Segments_Details

Business Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
	segment
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments	4
Segment revenues	$16,633	$14,535
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures, net	1,150	438
Real estate - commercial/industrial
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	3,362	2,942
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures, net	1,150	459
Revenues and Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	4,512	3,401
Real estate - commercial/industrial | Commercial leases
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	2,145	1,863
Real estate - commercial/industrial | Grazing leases
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	387	368
Real estate - commercial/industrial | All other land management ancillary services
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	830	711
Real estate - resort/residential
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	0	93
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures, net	0	-21
Revenues and Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	72
Real estate - resort/residential | Management fees
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	0	90
Real estate - resort/residential | Other
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	0	3
Mineral resources
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	10,200	9,654
Mineral resources | Oil and Gas
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	776	1,740
Mineral resources | Water Sales
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	8,993	7,390
Mineral resources | Rock Aggregate
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	102	263
Mineral resources | Cement
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	242	205
Mineral resources | Land Lease for Oil Exploration
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	87	56
Farming Segment
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	3,071	1,846
Farming Segment | Total crop proceeds
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	3,058	1,846
Farming Segment | Almonds
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	2,716	1,276
Farming Segment | Pistachios
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	249	308
Farming Segment | Wine Grapes
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	0	0
Farming Segment | Hay
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	93	262
Farming Segment | Other Farming Revenues
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Segment revenues	$13	$0

Investment_in_Unconsolidated_a2

Investment in Unconsolidated and Consolidated Joint Ventures - Investment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
	joint_venture
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	$32,666,000		$32,604,000
Equity in earnings (losses)	1,150,000	438,000
Number of joint venture contracts	3
Long-term debt	78,060,000		81,309,000
Line of Credit
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity				52,000,000
Petro Travel Plaza Holdings LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in earnings (losses)	1,160,000	599,000
Unconsolidated joint ventures, ownership interest	60.00%
Unconsolidated joint ventures, voting rights	50.00%
Long-term debt	15,604,000		15,808,000
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	17,609,000
Tejon Mountain Village LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in earnings (losses)		-21,000
Rockefeller Joint Ventures
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of joint venture contracts	3
Number of acres for development	91
Development of land in TRCC including pursuing foreign trade zone	500
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	15,057,000
Five West Parcel LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in earnings (losses)	91,000	29,000
Unconsolidated joint ventures, ownership interest	50.00%
Area of building owned and leased	606,000
Long-term debt	11,000,000		11,000,000
18-19 West LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in earnings (losses)	-1,000	3,000
Unconsolidated joint ventures, ownership interest	50.00%
Long-term debt	0		0
Number of acres for development	61.5
TRCC-East
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures					87,000,000
Number of acres for development		326,000
TRCC/Rock Outlet Center
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures					0
Equity in earnings (losses)	-100,000	-172,000
Long-term debt	51,134,000		45,449,000
Centennial Founders, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in earnings (losses)	0	0
Consolidated joint venture, ownership interest	74.08%
Long-term debt
Building Development | Rockefeller Joint Ventures
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of joint venture contracts	2

Investment_in_Unconsolidated_a3

Investment in Unconsolidated and Consolidated Joint Ventures - Condensed Statements of Operations and Balance Sheet Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Operations
Equity in earnings (losses)	$1,150,000	$438,000
Balance Sheet Information
Current assets	66,366,000		65,927,000
Property and equipment, net	43,453,000		43,094,000
Long-term debt	-78,060,000		-81,309,000
Unconsolidated Properties [Member]
Statement of Operations
Revenues	24,932,000	25,913,000
Net income (loss)	1,913,000	676,000
Partner’s share of net income (loss)	763,000	238,000
Equity in earnings (losses)	1,150,000	438,000
Balance Sheet Information
Current assets	26,306,000		25,101,000
Property and equipment, net	133,217,000		133,609,000
Other assets	21,004,000		19,872,000
Long-term debt	-77,738,000		-72,257,000
Other liabilities	-5,024,000		-8,321,000
Net assets	97,765,000		98,004,000
Petro Travel Plaza Holdings LLC
Statement of Operations
Revenues	21,861,000	25,053,000
Net income (loss)	1,934,000	998,000
Partner’s share of net income (loss)	774,000	399,000
Equity in earnings (losses)	1,160,000	599,000
Balance Sheet Information
Current assets	20,131,000		18,960,000
Property and equipment, net	48,170,000		48,011,000
Other assets	0		181,000
Long-term debt	-15,604,000		-15,808,000
Other liabilities	-2,683,000		-3,263,000
Net assets	50,014,000		48,081,000
Five West Parcel LLC
Statement of Operations
Revenues	995,000	844,000
Net income (loss)	182,000	59,000
Partner’s share of net income (loss)	91,000	30,000
Equity in earnings (losses)	91,000	29,000
Balance Sheet Information
Current assets	2,489,000		3,834,000
Property and equipment, net	14,341,000		14,869,000
Other assets	74,000		67,000
Long-term debt	-11,000,000		-11,000,000
Other liabilities	-592,000		-440,000
Net assets	5,312,000		7,330,000
18-19 West LLC
Statement of Operations
Revenues	7,000	16,000
Net income (loss)	-2,000	5,000
Partner’s share of net income (loss)	-1,000	2,000
Equity in earnings (losses)	-1,000	3,000
Balance Sheet Information
Current assets	33,000		5,000
Property and equipment, net	4,639,000		4,617,000
Other assets	0		0
Long-term debt	0		0
Other liabilities	-5,000		-2,000
Net assets	4,667,000		4,620,000
TRCC/Rock Outlet Center
Statement of Operations
Revenues	2,069,000	0
Net income (loss)	-201,000	-344,000
Partner’s share of net income (loss)	-101,000	-172,000
Equity in earnings (losses)	-100,000	-172,000
Balance Sheet Information
Current assets	3,653,000		2,302,000
Property and equipment, net	66,067,000		66,112,000
Other assets	20,930,000		19,624,000
Long-term debt	-51,134,000		-45,449,000
Other liabilities	-1,744,000		-4,616,000
Net assets	37,772,000		37,973,000
Tejon Mountain Village LLC
Statement of Operations
Revenues		0
Net income (loss)		-42,000
Partner’s share of net income (loss)		-21,000
Equity in earnings (losses)		-21,000
Centennial Founders, LLC
Statement of Operations
Revenues	93,000	269,000
Net income (loss)	-62,000	68,000
Partner’s share of net income (loss)	-16,000	18,000
Equity in earnings (losses)	0	0
Balance Sheet Information
Current assets	103,000		651,000
Property and equipment, net	78,032,000		77,373,000
Other assets	14,000
Long-term debt
Other liabilities	-345,000		-158,000
Net assets	$77,804,000		$77,866,000