Felicity

Travel Guide

Istel is the founder of Felicity and the town’s longtime mayor, having been elected, almost 30 years ago, to an apparent lifetime term. The vote was unanimous: Istel voted for himself and so did Felicity’s other resident, Istel’s wife, Felicia. The town, established in 1986, consists of the Istels’ home and a half-dozen other buildings that the couple built on 2,600 acres in the middle of the desert near Yuma, Ariz., just off Interstate 8. At the north end, up an imposing staircase, sits the Church on the Hill at Felicity — inspired by a little white chapel in Brittany — that Istel built in 2007. The church is gorgeous and serene and looks eerily out of place, though less out of place than the 21-foot-tall stone-and-glass pyramid on the opposite end of town. The pyramid is there to mark the exact center of the world.
Istel is the founder of Felicity and the town’s longtime mayor, having been elected, almost 30 years ago, to an apparent lifetime term. The vote was unanimous: Istel voted for himself and so did Felicity’s other resident, Istel’s wife, Felicia. The town, established in 1986, consists of the Istels’ home and a half-dozen other buildings that the couple built on 2,600 acres in the middle of the desert near Yuma, Ariz., just off Interstate 8. At the north end, up an imposing staircase, sits the Church on the Hill at Felicity — inspired by a little white chapel in Brittany — that Istel built in 2007. The church is gorgeous and serene and looks eerily out of place, though less out of place than the 21-foot-tall stone-and-glass pyramid on the opposite end of town. The pyramid is there to mark the exact center of the world.
According to the French government and California’s Imperial County, the official center of the world lies in the town of Felicia in California’s Sonora Desert. There is no scientific or political reason for the designation, but only the effort of Jacques-André Istel and his wife Felicia Lee (the town's namesake), who founded the town in 1986. Jacques-André made his name and fortune as a famous French-American parachutist and co-founded of Parachutes, Inc., which produced parachuting equipment and opened the first parachuting school in the United States. He is credited as a key figure in popularizing parachuting in America and has been referred to as the “father of American skydiving.” In 1985 he wrote the children’s book "Coe: The Good Dragon at the Center of the World" about a dragon that lived at the center of the world, which served as the inspiration behind the town’s creation
La Fuente Inn & Suites

La Fuente Inn & Suites

3 out of 5
1513 E 16th St Yuma AZ
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Yuma. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in their reviews. ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (2,211 reviews)
Great property, staff and price point!

Reviewed on 19 Feb 2026

Get rates
La Fuente Inn & Suites
Quality Inn & Suites Yuma

Quality Inn & Suites Yuma

2.5 out of 5
1691 S Riley Ave Yuma AZ
The price is €64 per night from 1 Mar to 2 Mar
€64
1 Mar - 2 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Yuma. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,146 reviews)
The staff was very helpful and Friendly. We ask for an extra blanket no problem.

Reviewed on 19 Feb 2026

Quality Inn & Suites Yuma
Wingate by Wyndham Yuma

Wingate by Wyndham Yuma

2.5 out of 5
1760 Sunridge Dr Yuma AZ
The price is €81 per night from 8 Mar to 9 Mar
€81
8 Mar - 9 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Yuma. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,044 reviews)
Clean room. Nice amenities. Friendly staff.

Reviewed on 18 Feb 2026

Wingate by Wyndham Yuma
See all 243 properties in Felicity
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Home away from home-Quiet cozy casita

Home away from home-Quiet cozy casita

Yuma AZ
Stay at this holiday home in Yuma. Enjoy private pools, a fitness centre and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Arroyo Dunes Golf Course and Yuma Palms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (14 reviews)
Very good stay!

Reviewed on 30 Jan 2026

Home away from home-Quiet cozy casita
One story fully furnished townhouse

One story fully furnished townhouse

Yuma AZ
Stay at this holiday home in Yuma. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a sauna and a garden. Popular attractions Arroyo Dunes Golf Course and Desert Hills Municipal Golf Course ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (56 reviews)
This was absolutely the best It was clean exactly as advertised. Grounds are beautiful well maintained had our own little patio It was excellent can't thank you enough the hosts were wonderful

Reviewed on 2 Feb 2026

One story fully furnished townhouse
Perfect for Families & Groups in Fortuna Foothills

Perfect for Families & Groups in Fortuna Foothills

Yuma AZ
Stay at this holiday home in Yuma. Enjoy a water park, laundry facilities and an in-room coffee maker. Popular attractions Castle Dome Mines Museum & Ghost Town ...
10/10 Exceptional! (3 reviews)
The house was very clean. The backyard is a dream. Next time we are in Yuma, I would love to book again.

Reviewed on 19 Feb 2026

Perfect for Families & Groups in Fortuna Foothills
See all properties in Felicity
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Crop view of woman walking barefoot on sand dune, Algodones Dunes, Brawley, USA

Brawley

Salton Sea

Holtville

Yuma which includes street scenes

Yuma

The Cloud Museum... Vintage cars, Motorcycles, Gas Pumps and on and on. I wandered for a couple hours. And I know I missed a lot. Private collection of Johnny Cloud's..... worth a visit if you are in Yuma That's how I found it... Lost on the Yuma backroads.. http://cloudmuseum.dynamitedave.com/

Bard