History Of Bina Ria: Bung Karno's Dream To Have Disneyland

Ferris Wheel in Dufan, Ancol (Instagram / @ ancoltamanimpian)

JAKARTA - Ancol's footprint as a tourist icon has been around since the Dutch era. At that time, the Ancol Beach area had become a recreation area for the Dutch elite. VOC artillery officer, Johannes Rach (1720-1783) even once described how exclusive the area that was once called Slingerland was. Unfortunately, because of the Malairia epidemic, Ancol was forgotten. As a result, President Soekarno came as the savior of an area that had become a monkey's den by initiating the Ancol Project in the 1960s.

In the Ancol Project, Bung Karno wanted to restore Ancol as a tourist spot with the murmur of "Dream Park." We discussed this in the article "History of Ancol: The Abandoned Dream Park to Become a Monkey's Nest" . President Soekarno wanted Ancol Beach to be accessible to all residents of Jakarta. It is noted that the project is planned to take up 552 hectares of swamps, ponds and shrubs.

Quoted by Sugianto Sastrosoemarto and Budiono in the book Trace Soekardjo Hardjosoewirjo at Taman Impian Jaya Ancol (2010), Bung Karno is said to have had the idea of creating an amusement park after visiting Disneyland, Hollywood and other entertainment venues during a three-week tour in the United States (US) in 1950 -an.

In short, Bung Karno wanted a similar entertainment place. Bung Karno seemed determined to choose the Ancol area as his main location. Therefore, the Ancol area which was originally planned as an industrial area, suddenly changed because Putra Sang Fajar wanted to rebuild Ancol's glory as a tourist icon.

As a form of seriousness, the government took the French contractor, Compagnic Industriale de Travaux (Citra) to carry out the mandate of the Ancol Project in 1962. As planned, this project would build a bathhouse, hotel, aquarium, housing, and a 208 meter high tower which also functions as a television tower.

However, the work did not go smoothly. It only takes four years to dredge the swamp and pond. Bung Karno moved fast. In order not to be contested by politicians from opposing groups, Bung Karno then made the Ancol Project a mandatory project. A project that is directly under the command of the president.

"... How can you provide a place that can make the people of Jakarta happy so that residents can enjoy the fresh sea air, see the cheerful children playing on the beach, beaten by the waves and the breeze," said Bung Karno while giving a message to the Governor of DKI Jakarta at that time. , Soemarno Sosroatmodjo when reporting on the progress of the Ancol project.

Ancol Beach (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Despite their efforts, the Ancol project was hampered again in 1966. Later, Bang Dagang Negara would no longer provide credit for the Ancol Project. This means that the Ancol project is in danger of being abandoned. Luckily, thanks to Ali Sadikin's dexterity or who is familiarly called Bang Ali as the new governor in 1966, he then handed over the task of building and completing the project to DKI BUMD, PT. Pembangunan Jaya, which is commanded by a successful entrepreneur, Ciputra.

“My belief has been formed unanimously. I can definitely develop Ancol. With the challenge of omnipotent difficulties, we can definitely do it step by step. Jakarta must have beautiful beaches. Not a beach that is wasted. If I reject this project, maybe no one else is willing to touch it. And, Jakarta will never have a beach that can be enjoyed as a tourist attraction, "said Cipultra as quoted by Alberthiene Endah in the book Ciputra The Entrepreneur (2017).

Ancol's first project: Bina Ria

After experiencing difficulties and uncertainty regarding the Ancol Project, in the end Bang Ali started to breathe a sigh of relief. On Sunday, June 25, 1967, he will attend the inauguration ceremony of Ancol's first project "Taman Rekreasi Bina Ria Ancol."

According to a Kompas daily report entitled Bina Ria, Beach, Bikini, and Motor (1967), the event attracted the attention of Jakartans who flocked to Ancol to try a new recreation area with Bina Ria Beach which is heralded as a white sandy beach. Instantly, the pegadang who were selling merchandise at the inauguration were like when a wind collapsed. All of their merchandise was sold out.

Not only that. The excitement of the opening ceremony continued. The DKI Jakarta government prepares a variety of attractions, ranging from a thousand meter distance swimming competition, water skiing demonstrations, amphibious car demonstrations, acrobatics, plastic girls, and music. Through the inauguration of Bina Ria, the Director of PT. Pembangunan Jaya, Ir. Ciputra began marketing the sale of land plots for industrial, residential and recreational areas.

"As Ancol's first project, Bina Ria was built at a cost of Rp. 7.5 million. The lack of recreational spots in Jakarta has made residents flock to Bina Ria. To enjoy the fresh air of the beach and white sand, the manager has prepared a tent that can be rented at a price of Rp. 100 per hour. The safety factor is guaranteed by assigning security guards. The entrance fee to this location is Rp. 10 for adults, Rp. 5 for children, Rp. 50 for cars, Rp. 10 for motorbikes and bemo, and Rp. 5 for bicycles, "the report said.

Uniquely, a funny incident was seen during the inauguration ceremony. As revealed by Johnny TG in the Kompas Daily newspaper entitled Ancol: Realizing Dreams in Ex-Swamps (2018), Bang Ali, who wore civilian clothes, black glasses, and a cheap grass hat, was warned by the security forces for not sitting in the invitation chair. Fortunately, there is a committee who can explain this and apologize to the governor for the incident.

The rest, the Bina Ria Beach area was later transformed into a popular tourist spot throughout Jakarta. Bina Ria seems to beat other beach tours, such as Cilincing Beach, which we reviewed in the article “The History of Cilincing, An Important Area in North Jakarta”.

Due to the love of Jakarta residents, the recording of Bina Ria's popularity was also recorded by several musicians, such as Titiek Sandhora, who performed the song Ke Bina Ria (1990). In addition, the current band, Naif, also shared their wonderful experiences when visiting Bina Ria through the song Piknik 72 (1998).

Go on Sunday

With a new girlfriend

Take a Vespa around town

Until Binaria

My heart is so happy.