ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Reality television star and former Playboy model Holly Madison took a whirlwind tour of Alabama’s Gulf Coast on Monday and Tuesday which included a visit to Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo in Gulf Shores.

During the zoo visit Madison presented officials with a $20,000 donation.

Madison, former reality show star on “Girls Next Door,” arranged the visit en route to a vacation in Disney World. She wanted to show her support for the area hit hard the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster.

“We’re stopping by because we heard so much about it on the news.” Madison said during an appearance at Cobalt Restaurant near Perdido Pass in Orange Beach. “It’s really beautiful here. We went to the zoo, a fire station, took a dolphin cruise and played on the beach.”

During her appearance at the zoo, Madison, who had heard about “The Little Zoo That Could” on an Animal Planet special after hurricane Ivan hit, donated $20,000 to the Zoo.

“I have a special love for animals,” she said. “I thought it would be a nice thing to help this zoo out with a donation. It’s inspiring to go over there and see what’s going on.”

Madison and several members of her entourage told their hosts they were unaware until now that Alabama even had beaches.

“It’s absolutely gorgeous here with the beautiful white sand,” she said. “I’d love to come back here some day and take one of those romantic, beautiful beach wedding photos. I can’t wait to get back down here.”

Officials on hand for the tour and lunch at Cobalt couldn’t agree more. Herb Malone, CEO of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism, suggested Madison come back for two concerts upcoming in October.

“I want to invite you to come back and join us for the Bon Jovi and Brad Paisley concerts,” Malone said. “I am extending a special invitation to you.”

Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon expressed his thanks to Madison for helping inform the nation about the Gulf Coast.

“They really wanted  to help us and experience what we’ve been going through down here,” Kennon said. “We’re happy to have them and it’s been a really fun time.”

Zoo director Patti Hall said Madison’s donation will be used to help the zoo move from its flood-prone location about a mile north of the beach to a location off Baldwin County 6 in northern Gulf Shores.

“All of us here are extremely overwhelmed that someone of Holly’s stature who lives on the West Coast would even know what’s going on here,” Hall said. “That she would take a vacation here to help out is great.”

During the Cobalt stop, Madison and fellow model Laura Croft posed for pictures with officials, media members and restaurant staff members.

After arriving Monday night, the group spent ate supper at Tacky Jack’s on Marina Road in Orange Beach.

Madison also filmed a promo for Island TV, a local channel on Mediacom cable while at Cobalt’s.