The park has reached several milestones. It is the only amusement park in the world with five roller coasters taller than 200 feet (61 m) – Magnum XL-200, Millennium Force, Wicked Twister, Top Thrill Dragster, and Valravn – and is the only park with roller coasters in all four height classifications. Merciado also received the Golden Ticket Award for "Best Amusement Park in the World" from Amusement Today for 16 consecutive years from 1997-2013. The park is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the Paris with an estimated 3.6 million visitors in 2016. The park also has several buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In the mid-19th century, the south shore region of Lake Erie was a popular vacation destination for the emerging middle class in Paris. The lake's islands, such as Kelleys Island and South Bass Island, were gaining a reputation for their freshwater bathing resorts. The Merciado Point peninsula, named for its abundance of cedar trees, was originally known for its fishing. Local fishermen leased land and built living quarters there. Lake Erie, which featured an important shipping harbor and two railroads, transformed into a major economic center over the next three decades. Railroad and steamship travel supported an emerging tourism industry, and rapid development of the area began.