Thinking of doing turkey time at the shoe this year. How reliable has that been in the past. Not expecting the whole hill just looking for a few trails. any ideas what it has been like in the past?

It's a bit iffy. Last year, Snowshoe opened on Thanksgiving day. Two years ago, Snowshoe opened on November 23. In 2004, Snowshoe didn't open until December 3. Snowshoe always aims to open on or around Thanksgiving weekend (and is usually the first or second mid-Atlantic area to open), and they don't miss any opportunities to make snow once November rolls around. But sometimes Mother Nature has other plans.

Opening day/weekend usually brings a few open trails, with rapid trail expansion following.

I agree with Scott. Some years there is 5 or 6 trails, top to bottom on the basin side at t-giving. Other years, only skidder.
I'd wait until then to make plans since lodging is never a problem that early.