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.
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
The price is CA $148 per night from Apr 3 to Apr 4
CA $148
CA $163 total
Apr 3 - Apr 4
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Yuma. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (2,253 reviews)
Convenient Hotel. Nice staff and great Amenities

Reviewed on Mar 25, 2026

La Fuente Inn & Suites
Best Western Yuma Mall Hotel & Suites

Best Western Yuma Mall Hotel & Suites

3 out of 5
1450 S Castle Dome Ave Yuma AZ
The price is CA $136 per night from Apr 12 to Apr 13
CA $136
CA $150 total
Apr 12 - Apr 13
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Yuma. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,003 reviews)
Well stocked delicious breakfast 😋

Reviewed on Mar 26, 2026

Best Western Yuma Mall Hotel & Suites
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Yuma

Howard Johnson by Wyndham Yuma

2 out of 5
3181 S 4th Ave Yuma AZ
The price is CA $86 per night from Apr 18 to Apr 19
CA $86
CA $95 total
Apr 18 - Apr 19
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Yuma. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,005 reviews)
Goof

Reviewed on Mar 26, 2026

Howard Johnson by Wyndham Yuma
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.
Bee-utiful Little House

Bee-utiful Little House

Yuma AZ
Stay at this vacation home in Yuma. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Yuma County Foothills Library and Fortuna ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (42 reviews)
This was a very nice place to stay! They were very accommodating with our dogs and had a dog friendly yard. We shut the gates and let the dogs run around. Ample parking for the trailer and truck. The neighbors were all friendly as we walked or rode our bikes. I would definitely stay here again.

Reviewed on Mar 12, 2026

Bee-utiful Little House
Vista del Valle

Vista del Valle

Yuma AZ
Stay at this vacation home in Yuma. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Arroyo Dunes Golf Course and Desert Hills Municipal ...
10/10 Exceptional! (142 reviews)
It was close to where we needed to be and very comfortable. Very welcoming and great communication.

Reviewed on Mar 21, 2026

Vista del Valle
Lovely Pool Home in a Quiet Upscale Neighborhood!

Lovely Pool Home in a Quiet Upscale Neighborhood!

Yuma AZ
Stay at this vacation home in Yuma. Enjoy free WiFi, private pools, and a garden. Popular attractions Arroyo Dunes Golf Course and Ironwood Public Golf Course ...
9/10 Wonderful! (124 reviews)
Nice home. Just wish the pool had been heated, we couldn’t use it.

Reviewed on Feb 5, 2026

Lovely Pool Home in a Quiet Upscale Neighborhood!
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.

Cities near Felicity