Small town charm near the suwanee river welcome to the hampton inn suites lake city fl originally established as a town called alligator lake city was incorporated and renamed in 1859 the name change came about because the mayors wife simply refused to hang her lace curtains in a city called alligator and who could blame her though the name is gone lake city still celebrates its roots with the annual alligator fest each october of course you neednt be afraid of any rampant rept