Felicity Travel Guide

Tourist 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. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (2,189 reviews)
One of the best stays in a long time for price point. The pool was nice and warm and when it got too chilly, the jacuzzi hit the spot. I will say the room was warm though, only complaint.

Reviewed on 22 Jan 2026

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La Fuente Inn & Suites
Motel 6 Yuma, AZ - East

Motel 6 Yuma, AZ - East

2 out of 5
1445 E 16th St Yuma AZ
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ₹4,865 per night from 4 Feb to 5 Feb
₹4,865
₹5,372 total
4 Feb - 5 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Yuma. Enjoy free parking, a 24-hour front desk and a snack bar/deli. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,104 reviews)
Room was comfortable and clean, the Personnel was very friendly, just as curteous...everything is a hop skip n jump shopping b restaurants.

Reviewed on 16 Jan 2026

Motel 6 Yuma, AZ - East
Quality Inn & Suites Yuma

Quality Inn & Suites Yuma

2.5 out of 5
1691 S Riley Ave Yuma AZ
The price is ₹6,158 per night from 25 Jan to 26 Jan
₹6,158
₹6,799 total
25 Jan - 26 Jan
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! (1,054 reviews)
Nice place to stay on a budget. Beds were comfy.

Reviewed on 17 Jan 2026

Quality Inn & Suites Yuma
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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.
Luxe Yuma Home With Private Pool!

Luxe Yuma Home With Private Pool!

3 out of 5
2179 W 22nd Ln Yuma AZ
Stay at this cottage in Yuma. Enjoy free parking, in-room fireplaces and air conditioning. Popular attractions Arroyo Dunes Golf Course and Desert Hills Municipal ...
Luxe Yuma Home With Private Pool!
Centrally Located Yuma Retreat w/ Fenced Patio

Centrally Located Yuma Retreat w/ Fenced Patio

3.5 out of 5
Yuma AZ
Stay at this business-friendly apartment in Yuma. Enjoy free parking, patios and an in-room coffee maker. Popular attractions Arroyo Dunes Golf Course and Desert ...
Home away from Home!
We didn't do much cooking but it was so wonderful to have a full kitchen! Not something you get with a hotel room. All the amenities of home! Very comfortable and convenient location in Yuma.

Reviewed on 26 Jan 2024

Centrally Located Yuma Retreat w/ Fenced Patio
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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

desert near of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico

Mexicali

Desert sunset at Arizona and California border near city of Blythe

Blythe

Located in the southeast corner of California, the Imperial Sand Dunes are the largest mass of sand dunes in the state. Formed by windblown sands of ancient Lake Cahuilla, the dune system extends for more than 40 miles in a band averaging 5 miles wide. Widely known as "Glamis" and a favorite location for off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts, the dunes also offer fabulous scenery, opportunities for solitude, and a home to rare plants and animals.

Brawley

Yuma which includes street scenes

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