adam cushing can look out his window at the ski resort he built from scratch. a very advance lift network, swimming pools, bars and restaurants at both the top and bottom of the restaurant. tennis courts, an ice rink, a ski school with 300 instructors, in short a recreational empire. but back in 1946 when cushing mentioned to his wife justine the idea of starting a ski resort. she thought he was crazy. still he kept thinking about squaw valley. >> i quit my job, i went all over the country and went to look at every ski area, and every ski area that was going to be built. once you start doing that you get interested. i had zero funds. >> reporter: but cushing did have enthusiasm. he raised some money, borrowed some, took on a partner and in 1949 opened the squaw valley ski area which consisted of a few buildings, a lot of plans and share lift with double chairs. the day the place opened, cushings company was broke but it had a foothold. in 1965 cushing got an idea that seemed crazy to others. he said he was going to try to bring the olympics to squaw valley. and