Felicity

Guida di viaggio

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
Alloggia in questo hotel per viaggi d'affari a Yuma. Potrai approfittare di utili servizi come la prima colazione inclusa nel prezzo, il Wi-Fi gratuito e un ...
9,4/10 Exceptional! (2195 recensioni)
Rooms were clean, Breakfast was very good, very manicured grounds, friendly staff, close to shopping. Perfect!

Recensione del 27 feb 2026

La Fuente Inn & Suites
Quality Inn & Suites Yuma

Quality Inn & Suites Yuma

2.5 out of 5
1691 S Riley Ave Yuma AZ
Il prezzo è 76 € a notte nel periodo 8 mar - 9 mar
76 €
8 mar - 9 mar
tasse e oneri inclusi
Soggiorna in questo hotel a Yuma. Potrai approfittare di utili servizi come la prima colazione inclusa nel prezzo, il Wi-Fi gratuito e un parcheggio gratuito. ...
8,6/10 Excellent! (1169 recensioni)
Yes to both

Recensione del 28 feb 2026

Quality Inn & Suites Yuma
Wingate by Wyndham Yuma

Wingate by Wyndham Yuma

2.5 out of 5
1760 Sunridge Dr Yuma AZ
Il prezzo è 86 € a notte nel periodo 29 mar - 30 mar
86 €
29 mar - 30 mar
tasse e oneri inclusi
Alloggia in questo hotel per viaggi d'affari a Yuma. Potrai approfittare di utili servizi come la prima colazione inclusa nel prezzo, il Wi-Fi gratuito e un ...
9,2/10 Wonderful! (1048 recensioni)
Staff was friendly. Room was clean. Pool was way to cold for a swim.

Recensione del 28 feb 2026

Wingate by Wyndham Yuma
Prezzo per notte più basso trovato nelle ultime 24 ore, per un soggiorno di 1 notte per 2 adulti. Tariffe e disponibilità sono soggette a modifica. Si applicano condizioni aggiuntive.
One story fully furnished townhouse

One story fully furnished townhouse

Yuma AZ
Soggiorna in questa casa vacanza a Yuma. Potrai approfittare di utili servizi come il Wi-Fi gratuito, una sauna e un giardino. Nelle vicinanze si trovano i seguenti ...
9,4/10 Exceptional! (58 recensioni)
Great place clean, comfortable, quiet

Recensione del 22 feb 2026

One story fully furnished townhouse
Townhouse situato in posizione centrale

Townhouse situato in posizione centrale

Yuma AZ
Soggiorna in questa casa vacanza a Yuma. Potrai approfittare di utili servizi come il Wi-Fi gratuito, un parco acquatico e un giardino. Nelle vicinanze si trovano ...
10/10 Exceptional! (141 recensioni)
Kitchen was equipped well. Rooms were very clean

Recensione del 1 gen 2026

Townhouse situato in posizione centrale
Cozy condo in Yuma!

Cozy condo in Yuma!

Yuma AZ
Soggiorna in questa casa vacanza a Yuma. Potrai approfittare di utili servizi come il Wi-Fi gratuito, un servizio lavanderia e kit per la preparazione di tè/caffè ...
9,6/10 Exceptional! (11 recensioni)
Everything I needed was provided.

Recensione del 23 feb 2026

Cozy condo in Yuma!
Prezzo per notte più basso trovato nelle ultime 24 ore, per un soggiorno di 1 notte per 2 adulti. Tariffe e disponibilità sono soggette a modifica. Si applicano condizioni aggiuntive.

Città vicino Felicity