[2][3] The park is located in the hamlet of South Wales, southeast of the city of Buffalo.

Several of the park's structures were part of a farmstead established by Josiah Emery in the early 1800s.

[1][2] Despite improvements and repairs in recent years, Emery Park was described by Erie County officials as being in the worst shape of all of the county's parks as of 2013, when plans for additional repairs were announced.

[4] The planned demolition of the Emery Inn was reported in late 2013 due to safety concerns caused by the building's advanced state of deterioration.

The structure was part of the original Emery farmstead, and had previously served as a museum and restaurant within the park before sitting vacant for many years.