cash cow

[FRITZ JUENGLING]

This is a reply in a newspaper about the funding for the Oregon Garden, which is having financial difficulties:

If it had been built near 1-5, there would have been a chance. We had a business in Silverton, but closed it because the 'promise of tourists' just didn't pan out. The Garden was a big flop, and is now just a cash cow.

Now, I understand "cash cow" to mean exactly the opposite of what this writer thinks.  So, which is it?  IS a cash cow a giver or taker of money?
Any comments?

Fritz J

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